Saturday, June 5, 2010

The Coolest Thing I Ever Gave my Son: EONAC20

"Thanks, Mom! This is the coolest thing you ever gave me!"

Those are the words my son shouted when I gave him this:



Yes, he loves the Wii, and yes, he has his game on.


I made this for EONAC20. When I read the challenge on Sue Berker's blog, I realized what a rut I've been in with cards. Everything I've made lately is either 4.25" x 5.5" or 4.25" square, with a simple fold. EONAC20 is to try a different fold, one you have never tried or haven't used recently. I immediately thought of a staggered accordion-fold card I saw in a magazine recently and went from there.

The folded piece is 5.5" x 11, scored at the following intervals 1.5, 1.5, 1.75, 1.75, and 2 inches. Scoring is sooooo easy with a ScorPal. Oh, my. Then I cut off the extra half-inch so the last flap is 2 inches. The circles were punched with 1.75" and 2" circle punches.

This uses the Game On set from Clear and Simple Stamps, which I bought after Sue recommended checking out CSS's kid sets. Given Nick's response, I plan on using it more. CSS makes high-quality photopolymer stamps and has some great designs, if you haven't already checked them out. And no, I am not paid to say that. I just like to push stamps. Makes me feel better about having so many myself.

Once I'd made the Coolest Thing I Ever Gave my Son, I decided to make another card with a half-front. The Wii remote stamp gave me the idea. I wanted it to be in the background but not interfere with the Mii winner image. I love how clean and minimalist this turned out, especially when you consider that the black line running down the center was drawn with a marker; it's not a cardstock layer. I rock.


Shot at more of an angle, it's easier to see the construction of the card. The white circle is punched with a 2" punch, and the black circle is cut with a Creative Memories circle cutter. My next punch size up yielded too big a matte and it looked heavy and unbalanced the card. We can't have that, now, can we?


I've got another, different fold to share tomorrow, if I can get it photographed. In the meantime, why not try your hand at EONAC20 yourself. It's fun and has opened up possibilities in a very exciting way!

Supplies
stamps: Clear and Simple Stamps Game On
ink: Palette noir
paper: PTI white, SU black
accessories: light gray Copic, darker gray and black Bic Mark-It, circle punches, Scor-Pal, CM circle cutter

26 comments:

  1. That is waaaaaaaay cool! It's amazing what you can do with a piece of white card stock and a little ink!

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  2. These cards are just FABULOUS!! I can't wait to give it a try! Thanks for sharing!

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  3. I love the fold you used. I'm going to try it - thanks for explaining how to do it!

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  4. what fun cards and a great story to go with them!

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  5. Great ideas-we all know that cards for men and especially young boys are hard to get right. Love the black and white and clear graphics.

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  6. Yes, you do rock! And yes! You fooled me. I thought the black line was another layer. I've only ever made one of the stair step cards and it was for my grandson and he liked it, too. Very cool. Thanks for the plug and I'm sure the CSS girls will love you as well. (Not that they don't already!)

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  7. wow, what a compliment!!! and I can see why he loved it!! I might have to invest in this set too .. and maybe I'll get a great compliment from my son!! You rock susan!!

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  8. Love these, Susan! Thanks for the kick in the butt to try some different kinds of cards!

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  9. Super cool card! I can see how he loved it!

    Happy Sunday!

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  10. that is one cool card!!! I'm sure Nick absolutely went gaga over it!

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  11. Wow you did all the measuring for us, thank goodness, because I would have wasted all day and several sheets of cardstock, getting it right.

    A different fold makes masculine cards easier because it's for sure the images rarely make a stamper happy.......nothin' fun about soccer balls, fishing rods, deer or pelicans!

    Thanks for taking us to new folds.

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  12. That is so cool! Love your fancy folds, and your drawn center line is so clever! Looks like CS to me! Thanks for the measurements - will give these a try!

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  13. These cards are ssooo cool, no wonder that your son loved them.

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  14. Susan, these cards are awesome! No wonder Nick was so impressed. Glad you brought up the rut thing --- I have never made any kind of card but the regular fold one! But boy, I'm into this accordian one now! I see one with the fruits from Tart & Tangy balanced on the folds! Oooh! Thanks for yet again widening my horizons!

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  15. Love these - the images, folds and black and white scheme too! It is fun to mix it up and play around with folds isn't it?

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  16. I'm not surprised he was stoked with his card Susan!! What a cool idea, and i'll be checking out that set for boys cards for sure! I think I need to get out of my regular card shape rut too! Kate x

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  17. Ha ha...your son's reaction kills me (esp. since it is so precisely what T would do)! I may have to get this set since I have some gamers in my life! And that step fold is ideal for the concept here!

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  18. Super cool cards, Susan! I showed the cards to my son and he went wow! He wants me to buy those stamp sets to make his birthday invitations lol! Off shopping now!

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  19. You DO rock! These are terrific -- there's a gamer in my family who would think they were totally cool, too.

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  20. This is the coolest card, ever! Love the accordian folds!

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  21. OMG!! Someone has stamp sets that can be used for my teen/tween boys?!! I am IN HEAVEN! What rock have I been under?(and now off to spend $$ that I shouldn't....)
    Great cards BTW!

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  22. Had to make another comment once I went to that site....THANK YOU!! I struggle to find stamps that are not "girly" (why, oh why, don't illustrators think of BOYS/young men? SPORTS?) Simple lines...simple cards for our simple guys....

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  23. These are great cards - love your son's comment!
    I soooo wish I had that stamp set now!! (have checked it out online) My kids would love a card like that too, or a winners certificate or any excuse to have Wii stamped stuff!! :)
    Thanks for sharing.

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  24. Cute, cute, cute!! Way to impress your son! Susan, you're so creative and these made me laugh. I especially love the accordion card.

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  25. And I thought the new iphone was the coolest thing I saw this weekend, UNTIL NOW - this rocks! Seriously love them both :) Thank you for your kind words - We are thrilled you are enjoying your stamps. Fabulous cards Susan!

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Thank you so much for taking time to comment!