Paula Cheney Makes a Journal with our February 2025 Card Kit: Pockets of Love Folio
Hi friends! Happy Thursday! I’m delighted to share this gorgeous and uniquely her own creation by Paula Cheney showcasing TONS of components of our brand new February 2025 card kit! Read on and enjoy!
The Simon February Card Kit is packed with some amazing products. There’s the beautiful Pinnacle Hearts embossing folder, the versatile Distressed Vintage Love Notes stamp set, and the rich, black Nocturne Ink Pad. Plus, you get the idea-ology Palette Ephemera pack which adds the perfect vintage touch to any project.
So, how can someone like me—who isn’t a card maker—use a card making kit? My answer is simple: add a bit of idea-ology to the mix! By combining the February Card Kit with an idea-ology Pocket Folio and Cello Sticker Tape, you can transform the card making supplies into the perfect materials for a journal. Whether you’re new to crafting or looking to try something different, this mix of supplies opens up a whole new world of creative possibilities! Let’s get started!
WATERCOLORING
Use the Precision Trimmer to cut the SSS Watercolor cardstock into 4 cards (4.25 x 5.5”).
Lightly spray each card with Antique Linen Distress Spray Stain, then wipe with a paper towel. Repeat the steps to add another layer of stain if needed.
Use black Nocturne ink to stamp THREE of the watercolor cardstock cards.
NOTE: Set the fourth card aside for use on the cover.
Color with Distress Watercolor pencils. I used Saltwater Taffy, Shabby Shutters, and Stormy Sky. I used a simple method to color the images, by dipping the end of the pencil into water (dot the excess water on a paper towel), then coloring the image. I find this part so relaxing because nothing has to be perfect! It will take you a bit of time to get through the three cards, but it will be worth it.
The Pocket Folio is unique because the covers are removable. This makes working on the inside much easier. Separate the cover from the zigzag. Place the covers in a safe place as we will work on the zig-zag portion first.
Use Collage Medium to adhere the watercolored cards to the three flat sections of the Pocket Folio.
If you are a sewer, you can choose to stitch around each card for more texture. If you’re not, just skip this step! Set aside the folio while we work on the covering for the pockets.
POCKETS
Use the Precision Trimmer to cut three cards (3 x 4.5”) from the SSS Cotton Candy cardstock.
Working one card at a time…spritz the back of the card with water. Slip one card into the Pinnacle Hearts embossing folder, making sure the top of the card is just above the top row of hearts, NOT the top of the folder.
Run the card through your die-cutting machine. Repeat with the other two cards.
NOTE: I always run embossing folders with two passes, but it will depend on the kind of machine you have.
Using the Precision Trimmer, cut the sides of each card to fit the pocket flap (about 4.25”). You should have five complete hearts along the top. Using Mini Recoil Snips, trim away the paper along the top row of hearts as shown.
Use a Mini Blending Tool and your favorite Distress Ink to lightly color the hearts. I like Gathered Twigs!
Add some Picket Fence Distress Paint to the Studio Mat. Spray a bit of water into the paint and swirl around with a Distress Splatter Brush. Use the brush to splatter the paint over the three pink cards. Let dry.
Once the paint is dry, use .50” Scor-Tape to add one pink card to each flap.
Before closing the flap to make the pocket, adhere ephemera from the Palette Ephemera pack to create a simple collage in the background. Remember, the ephemera only must cover the top portion above the pocket. Once the ephemera has been added with Collage Medium, add a few pieces of idea-ology Cello Sticker Tape to keep the vintage look going. The last step is to close the pocket, by adding .25” Scor-Tape on the left and right sides of the flap. Peel the release paper and press the flap closed.
TAGS
Use the Distressed Vintage Love Notes Stamp set and Nocturne Ink to stamp at least three #5 Mixed Media Heavystock Tags. I also used Gathered Twigs Distress Ink around the edges of each tag. Ribbon of your choosing can be added to the opening at the top of the tag.
COVERS
INSIDE FRONT COVER
Slip a deli sheet or another disposable paper into the opening on the inside front cover to protect the right edge from being glued shut. Use Collage Medium to adhere a variety of Palette Ephemera pieces to the inside cover.
Add several pieces of Cello Sticker Tape to the cover to mimic the sections of the folio previously done.
Remove the deli sheet and insert the zigzag into the opening. You can add a bit of Collage Medium to secure, but most times, the fit is tight enough to stay in place.
INSIDE BACK COVER
Again, insert a deli sheet into the opening on the back cover to protect it from Collage Medium. The back cover has a flap. We are going to use the flap to make another pocket. Use Collage Medium to adhere Palette Ephemera to the inside cover and the flap as shown.
Add 4 foam squares to the flap and seal shut to create the pocket.
Use #5 Mixed Media Heavystock tag + Palette Ephemera to make a pocket insert. Once complete, add the back cover to the zigzag, just as we did with the front cover.
FRONT COVER
Use a Mini Blending Tool and Distress Ink, to ink around the edges of the front cover. Seal the pink “Cotton Candy” envelope that came in the kit. Turn over and ink the edges of the envelope.
Use the Nocturne Ink to stamp a sentiment from the Distressed Vintage Love Notes stamp set over the last Watercolor Card.
Adhere the stamped card to the pink envelope. NOTE: I trimmed about a1/8th inch of the side of the card to make it perfectly fit the pink envelope. Stitch around the edge of the card (optional).
Use Collage Medium to add the stamped card onto the cover (I removed the cover from the zig zag for this step). * Before you glue, make sure your cover is right way up, since the other side is already complete!
Iron the twill tape that comes with the Pocket Folio. Lay it across the cover (you will be able to adjust it later). Add the floral ephemera card to a piece of scrap cardstock to strengthen the paper. Sew around the edges of the card.
Adhere two pieces of .50” Scor-Tape to the top and bottom of the ephemera, then add the card to the cover. The twill tape should move freely under the center of the floral card. Add the cover back onto the zigzag if you removed it.
Once you are done, just add the stamped #5 tags made previously + more ephemera to each pocket. You could also add family photos or other pieces of remembrance like tickets, notes, journaling cards…anything that could tell your story.
Isn’t is amazing what you can do with a simple card kit? -Paula
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Thanks so much for stopping by, and thanks to Paula for being our guest!
Repetition is Your FRIEND! Creating a Composition with Small Images: Amore Laurafadora
Hi friends! Happy Wednesday! Please join me in welcoming back special guest Laura Bassen with this super sweet and colorful card project featuring the brand new CZ Design Oh Shiitake stamp and die set (and a cameo of Frank the Cat!) Laura is using her imagination and favorite color combos to create this fun color scheme! Be sure to watch the video for all the details, and enjoy!
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Thanks so much for stopping by, and thanks to Laura for being our guest!
Creating the Illusion of Dimension in an Almost One-Layer Card: Yippee for Yana
Hi friends! Please join me in welcoming back the oh-so-talented and amazing Yana Smakula! (Please note: our dear friend Yana is Ukrainian. To show support to our brothers and sisters in Ukraine, please see Yana’s post HERE.)
Hello, crafters, this is Yana Smakula for Simon Says Stamp! Welcome back for another Yippee For Yana video! Today I’m creating a (almost) one-layer card full of faux dimension with the Simon Says Stamp Tucked Hearts stamp set. Join me!
The Tucked Hearts stamps a unique background filled with large overlapping hearts. I stamped it using Intense Black ink onto Neenah Solar white 80lb cardstock. I trimmed my panel to 4 ¼ x 5 1/2 “ making sure I had one heart exactly in the center. I colored that center heart red using R27 and R39 Copic markers. I was inspired by the colors of my living room (green walls and red posted) and went with green and red color combination which is so common for Christmas but isn’t used much outside of the Holiday season. The rest of the hearts were colored using G94 and G99 – I made sure to add shading everywhere where the hearts overlapped to create the illusion of a dimensional panel. I love the end result!
I added a simple skinny strip sentiment overlapping the red heart (I didn’t want to cover much of the background). The sentiment was made using the brilliant EZ strips – these are so easy to make and give you a bunch of sentiments in a single pass through the die cutting machine.
And lastly, I embellished my cards with Rainbow Splash drops. Yay! I hope you’ll try this background stamp, regardless of the color combo you use!
Have fun stamping!
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Ways to support Ukraine:
If you are looking for ways to support Ukraine, we encourage you to visit this page on Yana’s blog:
Thanks so much for stopping by, and thanks to Yana for being our guest!
