For Your Inspiration and My Visual Reference

 Well, well!! Guess who made it back to this blog post.  Yes, it's me blogging on this cool, damp Monday morning on April 24, 2023.  This lady has been very, very busy with so many crafty things going on.  She is making cards to send to the soldiers, mini albums/folios for family and friends, and jewelry (not posted here).   I'm sharing pictures for you to get some inspiration to make the same or somewhat the same card.  I always like to keep a visual record of what I've made to refer back to it someday for my own reference and inspiration.  I pray that all have and is well with you and your family.

Here is what I've made since my last posting.  Some of these cards have been sent to "Cards For Soldiers".  Some have been entered for inspiration @Splitcoaststampers and some have been given away:

I hope you find something to replicate or use for your cardmaking.

Take care and be safe.

Blessings,

Lois

"Time Is Rolling On...I Need To Catch Up"

 Hello friends,

It has been over a month since I last blogged with you.  I'm doing well physically, mentally, and spiritually.  I've been busy trying to combine crafting with some home improvement projects and I have to admit that some days it feels overwhelming.  Today, I get a chance to breathe and catch up with my shares.  I lot of the cards that I've posted in the past have either gone to the "Cards For Soldiers Program" or to the "Cards For Kindness" programs.  I'm excited to have cleaned a portion of my crafting space to make room for more cards.  What have my lovely family, followers, and friends been doing?  If you are still connected with the school, then are you retired, or are you going back for year number ___?  After fifteen years of retirement from teaching in public school and due to so many schools lacking teachers for the upcoming school year, I thought seriously for just a little while about going back to help out.  Do I or don't I?  Anyway, we still have projects to complete at home and there are days on which I just love my independence.

Here are and please be on alert the many, many card shares I have for you:

A card also designed for https://www.wordartwednesday.blogspot.com

a card designed for sketch SC920 for Splitcoaststampers.com

Thanks so much for viewing.  I appreciate your comments and questions.

Love,

Lois

TEACHER APPRECIATION...a lever card tutorial

Hello Viewers, Friends and Followers,
If you can read this then thank a teacher.  It's that time of year to appreciate a teacher or teachers. I have retired from the teaching profession in the school system. I'm still working on Sunday mornings teaching an Adult Sunday School class at my church.  Today, I want to teach some of you how to do a "lever card".  If you research fancy fold cards, this is one that is listed.  Let's get started:  If you would like to follow go to http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/resources/tutorials/levercard
Supplies:
•Two 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" pieces of cardstock
• Paper Cutter
• Scoring tool
• Adhesive
• Patterned paper, stamps, and dies to decorate completed card

Step 1 Score the first piece of cardstock at 4 1/4" and fold in half. This will be the card itself. On the side that is the front, cut out a square window, 1” from all 4 sides.

Note:
The completed card measure 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"

Step 2 Score the second piece of cardstock at 4 1/4" and 6 3/8”. Go in 2 1/8” from the left edge and score down to 1” from the top and up to 1” from the bottom.

Step 3  Measure 1" around on all 4 sides and cut out window.

 

 Step 4 To cut the “lever” that will fit through the card front “window”, go in 1” from the left edge and cut a slit that starts 1” from the top and goes down to 1” from the bottom.Cut from the top and bottom ends of that slit over to the 2 1/8” score line. This produces the “lever” that will fit through the front window.

Fold on all score lines. Folds should be valley/mountain/valley folded. Add adhesive to the “backside” of the left and right panels of the cardstock you just scored and glue it inside the card. The “lever” tucks inside of the front “window”. If this is a tight fit, trim a sliver off the top and bottom of the lever so that it will move freely through the window. Glue this section to the card front section. Cut a 4” x 5 1/4” piece of patterned paper for the front of the card. Cut in 7/8” from all 4 sides to make the decorative layer for the front of the card.  For the inside of the card, cut 3 strips of patterned paper 1 7/8” x 5 1/4” tall. Cut a fourth piece 3 1/8” wide by 5 1/4” tall. Adhere two of the 1 7/8” pieces to cover the two right panels inside the card. The third will be used to cover the left side of panel after you shape it.  On the remaining 1 7/8” x 5 1/4” piece, cut in 1” from the RIGHT side, 7/8” from the top and 7/8” from the bottom. Make a vertical cut that connects these two cuts, so that the remaining piece of patterned paper looks like a “C”. Adhere this to the LEFT panel of the inside of the card.  

On the 3 1/8” x 5 1/4” patterned paper, cut in 1 1/8” from the LEFT side, 7/8” from the top and 7/8” from the bottom. Cut down from the top and up from the bottom to meet these two cuts and remove those two small squares of paper. This creates a shape that will cover the “lever” part of the card. 

  Lever Card Front...Teacher Appreciation #1
Decorate the front and inside of the card with die-cuts, images, and sentiments as desired.

Inside of Card

Lever Card....Teacher Appreciation #2
Card Front

Inside of Card #2

This card follows the sketch from www.freshlymadesketches.blogspot.com #184 .  I  posted this because it goes with the other Teacher Appreciation Cards.  This is the outside view.

This is part of the inside view with the sentiment.

This is the full inside of the card.

I'm sending these to my granddaughter so that she can give them to her teachers. 

Appreciate a teacher or teachers next week when we celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week.  It could be a public or private school teacher or someone at your church.

Thanks for viewing with me today.  I love those comments.  Keep them coming!

Sending you a hug and LOVE,

Lois