BEADZ: Core’dinations Design Team Call

Are you ready for a fun (although long) post? Well grab your cup of tea and let's go! Core'dinations Cardstock is having a design team call - and I love this company. Because their paper is either a matching or contrasting core (never white cores) - there are so many great techniques that are possible- where as other products just won't work. This paper is very versatile- I enjoy using it for cards and layouts, but it's also my favorite for mixed media projects. I can only give you a little taste of what can be created today, but if you haven't tried this paper - go get some now, and join the fun.

Project 1 - Card in a Box
Fancy Fold cards are always fun, and I thought this Card in a Box would be a great way to show a potpourri of techniques and papers. While none of these techniques are hard, you put them all together, and you've got the wow factor. On this project I constructed the base, dry embossed, sanded, stamped, heat embossed, paper pieced the stamped flower, stencilled, fringed, punched, inked and die cut.

This amazing little box will fold flat and fit in an envelope.

The flowers and leaves were stamped on multiple colors of Core'dinations and paper pieced.

Supplies Project 1
Core'Dinations Vintage Collection
Core'Dinations Black Magic
Core'Dinations Whitewash
Core'Dinations Core Couture
Core'Dinations Super Assortments
Fun Journey Stampers: Greet and Shout, Enjoy the Journey, Summer Garden, Butterflies Die Set, Pennants die set, Color Fusion Ink
May Arts Ribbon

Project 2 - Shabby Floral Card

Project 2 - Shabby Floral Card

1. Cut a 4 x 6" card base from the Graphic 45 collection.

2. Cut a 3.75" x 5.75" cream panel. Distress the edges and glue to the front.

3. Cut a 3.5" x 5.5" piece of Whitewash collection, with the light green core. Emboss with the folder, then use the Core'dinations Sanding buddy to sand the raised areas, exposing the green areas of the paper. Glue to the card.

4. Tear two sections of the same paper for center panels, and glue to the center of the card.

5. Use the same color paper as the card base to die cut the Decorative Lace Border. Cut into two sections. Glue the large scallops to the card and the smaller border to the edge of the card as shown.

6. Die cut Carnations using the Whitewash collection - this time choose a peach colored core. Sand over the petals to create a shabby look and to expose the peach.

7. Add a bit of Blue Lagoon ink to the centers of the flowers. The cardstock accepts the ink like a dream.

8. Sprint the flowers with Gold mist, and fold each flower in half, half again, and again - and then roll each between your fingers to curve them. Let dry.

9. Unfold the flowers.

10. Turn the flowers over and shape with a stylus tool. Assemble the flowers as shown. Add micro beads and an adhesive gem to each of the flower centers. Add ribbon and gem flourishes to finish the card as shown.

Supplies for Project 2

Core'dinations Whitewash Collection Cardstock

Core'dinations Graphic 45 Signature Series Cardstock

Zva Creative Gems: CRW-03CB-143; CRW-07CA-151

Spellbinders - Carnation Creations Die

Heartfelt Creations- Decorative Lace Border Die

Sizzix Embossing Folder - Damask

May Arts Tulle

True Color Fusion Ink - Kiwi

Heidi Swapp Color Shine - Gold

Xyron - Adhesive

Martha Stewart Micro Beads

Project 3 - Poppies Mixed Media Panel

My final project is a mixed media wall hanging. The panel is 12 x 12" and it's in a 16" square frame - to give you an idea of the dimensions. While this piece was very involved, there are tons of techniques that anyone could apply. I was inspired by the gorgeous antique book - that I used as part of my focal point, and wanted to add handmade poppies to mimic the original graphics.

My background began as off white Core'dinations paper. Small sections were embossed using Spellbinders/Gilded Life Vintage Brocade die. The raised areas were inked, the whole piece misted, and then the raised areas were sanded. Gold leaf was applied using a glue stick to some of the raised areas. I also added some vintage lace and Art Anthology paints over the fabric.

I embellished the front of the book with May Arts rhinestone chain, and used the Core Couture to die cut the Petite Monarch die.

I removed the pages of the book, and made a shadowbox to replace them. I used the Gilded Life Vintage Damask and French Script Texture plates to emboss the Chocolate Box papers, and then I sanded the raised areas to expose the blue core. The Crowned Medallion pendant was used as the treasure in my box. I used embossing powder over parts of it, to make it look like a time worn relic - and added a handmade poppy to the center.

From the bottom of the book, I hung a vintage mother of pearl chain with the Large Chandelier Bezel on it. I cut the paper using the matching Chandelier die and used poppy paper from Graphic 45. There are some tiny gold beads inside the bezel, and a vintage glass flower and rhinestone dangle were added to complete the transformation.

I used a combination of Spellbinders dies to create the poppies including the Create a Rose and the Create a Gerber Daisy, as well as leaves and centers from Heartfelt Creations/Spellbinders. I love the antique look of the sanded leaves - perfect for vintage projects. I added a mix of black buttons and pearls to help tie in to the black matting in the frame.