Swinging from a Tree... Whee!: FULL Tutorial

*edited to add: Kelli Hull is the lucky winner for this blog candy!  Congratulations, Kelli.  Please e-mail me your mailing address and I will get your prize out to you. :)

Hi all and welcome back!  I am SO thrilled that you all enjoyed my "tree" card.  Your sweet comments have made me SMILE!  Thank you for your kindness! 

Today, I have the TUTORIAL ready for you!  Make sure to read the message at the end of this post.  You'll have a chance to win this card!  I had to make another one to write this tutorial, so now I have TWO and would love to share with one of my blog readers.

You can view the original post of my tree card right HERE.  Just as a reminder, here is the card I'll be showing you how to make.  I will take you along each step with full photographs and explanation.  The *only* difference between this card and the original, is I ran out of cloud patterned paper (pout), so I needed to use a different pattern from the pack (Love Me Do by My Mind's Eye).

My base layer is a 5 1/8 X 5 1/8" piece of patterned paper layered with a piece of black card stock measuring 5 1/4 X 5 1/4".  After stitching it together, I made my tree trunk using a piece of kraft card stock 5 1/8" long and about 3 inches wide (to start).

I hand-trimmed the tree trunk as shown.  Use a small oval (or circle) punch to punch a shape out of the tree trunk.  Then, tape a piece of kraft card stock to the back-side, covering the hole, with scotch tape.  This will add dimension without being over-powering.

Adhere as shown and then add a strip of green card stock cut to 1/2" X 5 1/8" along the lower edge of the patterned paper over the tree.  This is a small detail you might have missed in the original, but I love the hint of grass peeking out behind the white picket fence. 

Use the Martha Stewart deep-edge punch to create the white picket fence.  I started with a piece of card stock 3 1/2" X 5 1/8", then punched the shape.  After punching I trimmed it until it was 1 1/2" high.  (It's easier to punch a slightly larger piece of card stock and then trim down to the desired size.)

Adhere the fence over the green card stock along the lower edge of the card (still allowing the small black border underneath to show).

Now add a strip of white card stock cut to 1/4" X 5 1/8" centered on the bottom "rail" of the fence.  This is another small detail that will add dimension and depth to your card.

Now you'll need a 1/2" circle punch (another shape that is about 1/2" will be fine) and the word window punch from SU (if you don't have the word window punch, you can create a channel with your paper trimmer).  Cut a piece of green card stock to 3 X 1 3/4".

Punch two holes in the green card stock as shown:

Connect the two holes as shown, using the word window punch from SU (or your paper trimmer).  The channel should be approximately 3/8".  This is our "channel".

Now you'll need 2 pennies, some foam tape (I used strips that I purchased from Hobby Lobby).

Cut a small piece of foam tape (about an inch long) and adhere it to one of the pennies as shown:

Now, place the green channel over the foam strip:

Remove the liner from the foam tape and place the other penny directly over the one under the foam tape.  Your penny contraption will now be stuck in the channel, creating your sliding mechanism.  Go ahead and tilt it from left to right to see it slide.  :)  If the edges of your foam tape as sticking and are preventing your slider from functioning properly, douse the remaining sticky portion with some powder and blow off (I use a "can of air" for this).  The reason there is foam sticking out, is that prevents your mechanism from spinning.  If you were making a spinner card, you would place just a dimensional in the center of the 2 pennies, but the rest of the process is the same.

Now, we need to prepare the sliding mechanism to be adhered to the top of our tree trunk.  I snipped off the corners of my sliding mechanism to ensure that nothing peeks out beyond the tree top.  Then, I placed foam tape on all four sides of the mechanism to lift it off the lower portion of the card (which would prevent it from sliding freely, if you skipped using foam tape on this step).

Remove the adhesive liners and attach the mechanism to the top of the tree trunk as shown:

We need to get the Pure Innocence Start the day with "whee" image ready.  I stamped her with Memento Tuxedo black.  You'll need one full image and one partial, with only the rope clearly stamped. (shown below)

She was colored using Copic markers.  Don't feel the need to color neatly inside the lines.  You'll be cutting her out, so don't waste your concentration on making it perfect!  :)  The only part you need to be careful with is between the ropes.  That will be colored in a light blue color (or a color that matches your paper underneath).  Also, stamp the main image on a piece of patterned paper that coordinates with your color palette.  You'll need to make sure her clothing is stamped clearly, which is the only part you'll use.

Trim out the colored image completely as shown (be sure not to cut off her hair), and the extra rope.  Cut the two ends at an angle as shown.

Using Diamond Glaze, glue the ends of rope together as shown.  Be sure to just use a dab and clean off any excess glue that shows on the front side of your rope image to prevent unwanted glossiness.

Cut the clothing out of the patterned paper as shown:

Adhere the pieces of patterned paper to the stamped image as shown, using Quickie Glue Pen.  Do NOT use an excessive amount of glue, or you will have glue that squishes out the side.

Punch two circles out that are 3/4" (I used black card stock).  Cover each of them on one side with a 3/4" red line sticky dot that you can find in my sticky stuff store.

Remove the liners from the dots and sandwich the end of the rope between the two black circles.

Now adhere the back black circle to the penny using another 3/4" red line sticky dot.

I do want to point out that I adhered a 3/4" red line sticky dot to the TOP of my black circle.  The liner is very slick and allowed the swing to "slide" freely.  Do not remove the liner if you do this.  This is optional, and it will work without the additional sticky dot placed on top.  Now, you need to add sticky foam strips to THREE sides on the top side of the slider mechanism as shown.  Your slider will move more freely if you use a double layer of foam strips (that is what I opted to do).

Die cut the largest flower out of the Blossom set of Nestabilities.  If you don't have these, you could use a round shape or even a scalloped circle.

Adhere the tree-top over the sliding mechanism.  You won't place any adhesive on the tree top itself.  It will be held in place by the double-sided foam tape you used on the sliding mechanism.  (you could also opt to build your tree top leaves first and then adhere... it's up to you)

Punch a circle out of Punchable Red Line Adhesive sheet found here in my sticky stuff store using the purple Marvy punch shown.  You can also use a circle cutter, or even free-hand cut a circle.  The adhesive sheets will also work with Nestabilities.

Adhere the adhesive circle to the tree top.  Punch a zillion or so leaf clusters using the punch by EK Success shown HERE.  (LOL)  Okay, maybe not a zillion, but punch a bunch and be prepared to punch more when you run out. :)  Begin laying them down over the adhesive as shown.  Here is the first layer:

2nd layer:

3rd layer:

4th layer:

5th layer:

After you've laid down your 6th layer, your tree top should be almost all covered.

At this point, you'll notice a "dip" in the center of the tree. I didn't like the way that looked, so I place a 1" red line sticky dot over the leaf clustered to enable me to fill in the center more.

Cut some of the leaf clusters apart as shown to more naturally fill in the last portion of the tree.

Fill in the rest of the tree and cover as much of the final adhesive dot as possible using the smaller leaf clusters and single leafs.  You may need to press them in crevices using your scissors.

You may notice some of the adhesive underneath is still visible.  It will likely be only a couple spots if you made your tree full enough, but to make it less visible, I dabbed my treetop with my embossing buddy (you could also use baby powder) and then blew off the excess with a "can of air".  This makes all the remaining adhesive matte and less noticeable.

Now, you'll need to adhere the tree panel to a card base.  I used a card that is 5 1/2" x 5 1/2".  Make sure to use STRONG adhesive for this step, as this panel is quite heavy. (understatement LOL)

Now, let's finish off the inside!  Grab a piece of 5 1/4" X 5 1/4" black card stock, 5 1/8" X 5 1/8" white paper and a strip of 1 1/2" X 5 1/8" patterned paper that matches the front of your card.

Lightly adhere them together (no adhesive on the edges, only in the center) and stitch together using your sewing machine if desired.  Now let me show you a TRICK!  Below is the corner that I started/ended my straight stitch around the edge.  See the two threads sticking up from the front and the two that are coming out the back?  Do NOT trim those off!  Let me show you how to NICELY take care of them.

Flip your card stock over and lightly tug on the two threads that are sticking out the back.  You will see two little loops appear on the back of the card stock.

Grab the loop, or stick your paper piercer through it and lightly tug.  You will be able to pull the thread through, from the front to the back, and you will now have all 4 threads sticking out the back of the panel.  Tug on them lightly, and then tape down the ends with scotch tape (and trim off anything that is protruding out the tape).

Now flip over your card stock and check out the perfection!  :)  NO stray threads, no clipped off threads... just smooth stitches with a clean, polished look.

Stamp the adorable sentiment that comes in the stamp set, Start the day with "whee" and adhere your inside panel in your card.

Finished card:

Close-up:

Whew!  All done!  I hope you enjoyed the tutorial!  Who's ready to make one?  You can do it!  Would you like the chance to win the card made during this tutorial?  You all have shared your comments so graciously, that the least I can do to say THANK YOU is offer up this card (and some other goodies) as BLOG CANDY! 

What can you win?

• 
  
  The card shown in this blog post
  
  
  
• 
  
  Pure Innocence Heart Stripes stamp set (MFT)
  
  
  
• 
  
  Selection of Sticky Stuff from my Sticky Store (valued at $20)
  
  
  
• 
  
  Selection of die cuts from my Die-Cuts store (valued at $15)
  
  
  

That is a prize package worth $44 PLUS the hand-made card!

So, who wants to win?  I'll give you a couple ways to win and you can choose the option that words best for you.  Just to be clear, you only have to do ONE of things I list (in addition to posting a comment to this blog post letting me know which one you did).

To qualify to be entered in the RANDOM drawing, you need to post a comment to this blog post letting me know which option you chose and do ONE (or more if you want to) of the following things:

• 
  
  Post a link to this post, directing readers to this tutorial/blog candy give-away, on your blog.
  
  
  
• 
  
  Follow this tutorial and make a tree card (stamps used are up to you), post on your blog or online gallery with a link back to this tutorial.
  
  
  
• 
  
  If you do not have a blog or on-line gallery, you may post a comment on this post telling me anything you'd like.  :)  Plan to make this card?  Like my tutorial?  Want to comment on anything?  Just leave a comment and I'll enter you to win... it's all in the spirit of giving!  :)
  
  
  

The drawing will take place on Friday, January 15th.  I will post the winner no later than January 16th.  If the winner does not come forward to claim the prize, I will re-draw on Monday. 

PLEASE be sure to come back and see if you have won!  :)  If your comments posts as "anonymous", please leave your name or some sort of identifying verbiage.

Again, thank you SO much for your support and if you would like to continue visiting my blog, be sure to "follow" in the side bar, add me to your google reader, or sign up for e-mail notifications of my blog posts in the side bar.

Have a wonderful day and THANK YOU!

**********************************************************

P.S.  I have had many readers ask what type of thread I use.  I took a picture for you.  :)  It is pretty thick and compared to "normal" thread seems like ROPE when I am sewing, but I SO love the weight of it and I use it pretty much exclusively!

Thanks for stopping by!  See you soon!