I ordered several card kits from Jen Caputo and have had them sitting here for a good couple of weeks now.
This is what they look like:
A "card kit" consists of 2 pieces of thick acid free chipboard (each w/ 2 pre-punched holes), 2 binding rings, and 10 protectors that are sized for cards (the standard 5.5" x 4.25" size).
I ordered a few kits and an extra pack of protectors as I have several ideas for what I want to do.
I just love that they are *perfect* for displaying cards, or for a place to put your swaps, or RAKS or whatever.
I've re-done one so far that I plan on putting the cards I'm really proud of in (it will be my "portfolio" per say) - and it was fun! It took a while to do but I enjoy spending extra time on stuff like this!!
I was actually able to cut into my beloved Chatterbox paper for this - I *looooovvveee* Chatterbox paper!! All 3 papers I used are from the Sun Room collection (I love how it sounds like Interior Design - I have actually been sorely tempted to frame this stuff and put it up on my stamp room walls - it's just SO pretty and has a really nice texture to it!). Anywho enough about the paper - otherwise I'm gonna have to start expecting some sort of comp. from Chatterbox *wink*.
So I covered both pieces of chipboard, and I ran some polka-dot ribbon (from Michael's) over the seam on the front cover.
I stamped and cut out the stem and flower pieces from SU's Petal Pushers set (went perfectly w/ this paper) using Certainly Celery, Pumpkin Pie, Tempting Turquoise, and Brocade Blue Classic Ink. I then adhered the flower parts together, covered the center w/ Crystal Effects and microbeads, and then painted the rest of it w/ Crystal Effects. I adhered it to the book w/ SU's Stampin' Dimensionals®
For the stem I cut it out and adhered it to the book, then I noticed that it blended in to the paper too much - so I mixed a bit of Certainly Celery re-inker w/ Crystal Effects and used a small paintbrush to apply it.
I used a piece of SU's HodgePodge Hardware and pressed it into a VersaMark Pad and embossed it w/ white embossing Powder. It ended up taking several coats to completely cover it - I was too lazy to take it outside and just spray paint it white - tho that would have been a good option! I hand drew the letters for my name on a piece of Chatterbox paper and punched it out using SU's large oval punch.
Grosgrain ribbon and a couple of dimensionals adhered the hardware to the cover.
The chipboard letters are made by Karen Foster - I picked those up at my LSS (see one of my very first posts to this blog) - some time ago. They're self adhesive - I sponged craft ink on them (Certainly Celery, Pumpkin Pie, Tempting Turquoise, Brocade Blue, Ruby Red) and once they were dry I stuck them on.
I cut a few flowers from the scraps of Chatterbox paper (didn't want to waste ya know!) and adhered them and added a little glitter mixed w/ CE to the centers.
For the insides I glued down the 3rd pattern of paper:
I used a SU glue stick to adhere all the paper to the chipboard - I *love* SU's gluesticks for things like this -it applies SO easily (think creamy) and holds up really well.
And here's a picture of the back:
Once it was all put together I tied various ribbons (SU and Michaels) to the binding rings and that was it!
Right now I have about 12 cards in it (2 will fit in each page protector) and it's about 1 3/4" thick. I'm thinking I will be able to fit about 30 cards altogether - tho these have a lot of layers and embellishments so I think I could fit much more if they were simpler (and flatter!).
