I created my own fancy fold card design so that it could stand on its own for display. I call it a clam shell fancy fold as it reminds me of the familiar image of an open seashell with a pearl resting inside. According to my very brief online search, clams don’t usually create pearls – did you know that? The common image that we see is likely a scallop rather than a clam. I wonder why the image isn’t commonly created with an oyster shell, since that’s where most pearls come from? I suppose oysters aren’t as aesthetically appealing as a scallop or clam. They sure taste good, though.
The Canadian west coast has some very large and tasty oysters. My dad would cook them in the shell on the barbecue, then we’d scoop them out of their shell and smother them in melted garlic butter. We had to eat them with a knife and fork because they were so big. I don’t enjoy the raw or breaded oysters nearly as much as I enjoy the ones that are steamed in their shell over the grill. I haven’t had them for quite a while now. Ah! I might have to see if I can get my hands on some again soon.
Anyone who participated in my online technique class in February made this very card and now I get to share it with you! I offer my monthly technique class via Zoom, but I also provide everyone with a written tutorial and a video tutorial. That way, if they can’t attend the class, they can still receive the pre-cut supplies and follow the tutorials to make the cards at their convenience and, of course, access the tutorial as often as they like.
Check out the video below to find out how to make this Clam Shell Fancy Fold card.
I loved the theme of the March Paper Pumpkin kit. Mountains and trees are some of my favourite things! The kit also had a little gift inside that wasn’t used in the making of the basic card designs: a set of 4 mini masks and a full sponge “round”.
When you get an awesome bonus like that, you just HAVE to play with it! My alternative project for the kit only uses one of the masks, but I’ll definitely be playing with them some more!
I used the mask that has the mountains on it. I sponged with Calypso Coral, Seaside Spray, and Mossy Meadow ink on Basic White cardstock.
I used Old Olive cardstock as behind my sponged Basic White, wrapped and tied my Linen Thread around them and used Stampin’ Dimensionals to adhere them to the Pretty Peacock card base that was provided in the Paper Pumpkin Kit. The die-cut trees and the narrow strip of Old Olive coloured paper are also from the supplies in the kit.
I shared this card during a Facebook Live video yesterday. If you’re on Facebook, you definitely should like and follow my Facebook Page so you don’t miss out on my posts, promotions, classes and events.
Watch the video below to see how I used the mask and sponges to create this card.
One of my favourite challenges that we do at the As You See It Challenge blog is the speed challenge! If you haven’t tried the speed challenge yet, I strongly encourage you to give it a whirl!
Here’s why:
Forces you to think fast, exercising your creative muscles – My usual design style is to overthink it. I trial and error different colour combinations, I’m indecisive about placement of accent elements, I end up removing an entire card front just so I can try it on a different colour, and I often just change my entire plan and do something completely different! When I do a speed challenge, it helps me to learn to trust my instincts and reject my unhealthy perfectionism.
Takes very little time out of your day – you need a few minutes to plan in your mind what you want to make, then gather your stamps, putting them on their acrylic blocks, have your ink pads and tools close, and have the paper (whole sheets, because cutting before you start the clock is a big no-no) and your paper trimmer ready. Then you have 10 minutes or less to actually make the card! Total time is maybe 15 or 20 minutes!
Is a great jumping-off point – I’m often not completely satisfied with the cards I design during a speed challenge, but one thing that always happens, whether I like my design or not, is inspiration for a design based on my speed challenge process. I’ll like an element on my super-fast card and will use that on the next card I make. The speed challenge jump starts my creative mojo!
It starts your creative engine – Do you ever feel like you’re not really “into it”? You feel blah and can’t find any inspiration on Pinterest or your favourite blogs? You scroll and scroll and scroll … and scroll. When you’re experiencing a creative slump, try a speed challenge. It will get your blood pumping again and increase the creative mojo flow into your brain. I don’t have any actual research to back me up on this, but I bet if we studied our brain before and after a speed challenge, you would find an increase in endorphins and dopamine.
You get better at it – I mentioned above that I’m often not satisfied with the final result of a speed challenge, but you know what? … I’ve improved. I used to like the resulting cards about 20% of the time, but now that I’ve had more practice and completed quite a few speed challenges over the years, I find that I’m really happy with my finished cards about 80% of the time. I think that’s pretty cool!
The challenge over at the As You See It Challenge blog today is a speed challenge to make a card in less than 10 minutes with a blossom theme. Blossoms are a perfect choice for March here in beautiful BC as the crocuses and early bulbs are starting to bloom and we are so looking forward to the blossoms on the fruit trees!
The flowers on my card are from the Free As A Bird stamp set from Stampin’ Up! I started the stopwatch on my phone and stamped the images in Tuxedo Black Momento Ink on Basic White cardstock. I used the Small Bloom Punch to punch out the larger blossom, then used my Flirty Flamingo, Mango Melody, Granny Apple Green, and Daffodil Delight Blends Markers to colour the blossoms and leaves. The Color Lifter on the larger blossom helped to soften the Flirty Flamingo a little bit.
9 minute and 44 seconds – just under the wire! Phew!
After my “bloomin’ fast” colouring, I trimmed the Basic White cardstock down to a square and used Stampin’ Dimensionals to attach it to the Sahara Sand card base. I stamped the sentiment on the Magenta Madness cardstock and cut it down to the size I wanted, attaching it to the Basic White square with more Stampin’ Dimensionals.
I tied a piece of Linen Trim into a bow and attached it and the larger punched out blossom to the card with Mini Glue Dots.
The final result is one that I can give to someone just to say hi and let them know that I’m thinking of them.
I might play around with this idea again and see if I can tweak the card base a bit. Maybe an embossing folder to add texture or maybe stamping a couple more leaves to the card base, peeking out from under the Basic White square. I’m feeling inspired with this particular jumping-off point, but I’m also happy with how this turned out. It’s a win-win!
According to my very brief online search, clams don’t usually create pearls – did you know that? The common image that we see is likely a scallop rather than a clam. I wonder why the image isn’t commonly created with an oyster shell, since that’s where most pearls come from? I suppose oysters aren’t as aesthetically appealing as a scallop or clam. They sure taste good, though.
