Thursday, February 8, 2018

New Shaker Idea....Valentine in Red and Green

One difference between dogs and cats!


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Hi, Friends......
DISCLAIMER: This post is NOT for people who make perfectly polished, exquisitely designed cards of all kinds every time. It is for people who tear their hair out making shakers! So don't judge me if this shaker card doesn't look as nice as ones that you make!!! :)
I am very excited to share with you an idea that is still in its beginning experimental phases, but has turned the corner for me on making shakers. Recently when making THIS SHAKER I nearly had to be committed to an institution. It turned out very pretty, but I cannot begin to tell you my frustrations in making it. My hat is totally off to all you who make flawlessly gorgeous shakers effortlessly, but that is not I.

Recently Lindsey over at The Frugal Crafter posted some super-fun ideas to use sequins....shaker projects were involved.  (I was already beginning to hyperventilate with anxiety, but I calmed myself with a handful of chocolate truffles and watched the video...) She used an inexpensive page protector and a woodburning tool to make pocket pouches. Too complicated for me!  And even she admitted there were problems with the technique. 


But I was noticing that page protectors are made of essentially the same material as the multidinous variety of tiny ziplock bags that I order cheap off of eBay for storing my little odds and ends. Why not make a shaker pouch out of one of these bags???? Would it work???? I didn't know. But it was worth a try.

I gathered all my panels for making a heart shaker card (all scraps from my stash!) and put some shiny sequins in a bag slightly larger than my window. Already this was soooooooooooo much easier than trying to guess how many sequins to use!! 


One of my disappointments in making shakers is that all the shaker mix falls to the bottom when the card is upright. My friend Becca Yahrling had the brilliant suggestion of gluing a few of the mix bits here and there in the window area so you always see some. Genius!

I had this additional idea on not adding dimensional foam in between the panels. There would still be some movement, but not the freefall of mix bits. (I do love the rattling freefall sound, but not the look of everything at the bottom!)

So here's my card.......




As you can see, it is not 100% perfect.  I do have a sheet of acetate under the top panel, but you can still detect some slight irregularities in the reflection of the plastic shaker bag below.  I am rather a perfectionist so this bothers me a little bit.  When it is actually in hand, however, it looks pretty good as you naturally shift it to make the sequins move around and to minimize the glare.  I like how lots of the sequins stay up in the card even when it is upright.


Products used include: Scraps....all scraps....Yay!!!
DCWV solid and glitter and printed cardstock scraps
Winnie & Walter - Essentials: Audrey Cutaways die set (has scallops)
Winnie & Walter - Essentials: Katharine Cutaways die set
Serendipity - Heart Scroll stamp and die set
Acetate sheet scrap
Core'dinations translucent vellum scraps
Winnie & Walter - Big Hugs with Evelin T Designs stamp set
Versamark ink
Ranger - Embossing Powder in silver
Tail end scrap of crinkle ribbon
Core'dinations kraft cardstock base


Okay....so that's my new idea. It's not as nice and smooth looking as the regular way of making shakers...so I know this is not going to appeal to many of you more expert crafters.  The slight waviness is a definite drawback. In my opinion, though, the total ease of making them definitely makes up for this small loss in visual perfection.... and I bet my recipients won't even notice!!

I made one more shaker where I added dimensional foam to see how much difference it makes. I will be posting that soon. I am going to continue playing with this new technique, and I hope to work out some of the kinks. Please tell me what you think of it so far.

Thank you for stopping by today. I appreciate your visits and comments!!!

<3
Janis


Thank you for the honor of entering this card in the following challenges:
1. Winnie & Walter 4th BD Bash - Use Your Scraps Challenge with Kelly
2. Winnie & Walter 4th BD Bash - Shaker Challenge with Lea
3. Die-Cut Divas - Love is in the Air
4. HeARTful Stamping Challenge Feb 4-11 - Anything Goes + a stamp
5. Love to Scrap Challenge #106 - I Love You
6. Craft Stamper February TIMI Challenge - Anything Goes with Stamping
7. Power Poppy February Challenge - Love to Sparkle
8. Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Love is in the Air
9. Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - It Must be Love
10. Word Art Wednesday Weeks #320-321 - Anything Goes
11. Crafty Friends Challenge #76 - Anything Goes
12. Dare2BArtzy February Challenge - Love
13. Archiscraps February Challenge - Use lots of bling

14. The Artistic Stamper February Challenge - Use Red
15. DL.ART Thankful Thursday Challenge #222 - Use Pink or Red
16. HIMCR #338 - Any Pinks and Reds
17. Double D - Sequins 
 











18. Joy Clair - Month of Love 

26 comments:

  1. Hurrah, someone else who doesn't effortlessly make shakers. They always look so pretty but yes, yes, yes and yes to all the points you mentioned. You didn't mention the final indignity of shaking the finished product only to find that filling, that wasn't enough/too much, starts leaking out of where-the-fluff-is-that-coming-from holes and covering everything with stuff. I made an faux shaker once! That one was pretty great. I have been thinking about that W&W challenge and have ideas of how it's gonna all go great this time. Bwhahaahaahaaahahahahahaaahahhaha. Yours looks cool. Will keep your ziplock bag idea in mind. Hugz

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  2. Janis.. I think you are maybe way too hard on yourself!!!.. your shaker card looks amazing to me, great tip on glueing a few sequins in the window area!!!. I look forward to seeing your next shaker creation. Thank you so much for sharing with The Artistic Stamper challenge. X

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  3. Beautiful, Janis! You did a wonderful job creating this shaker card! Thanks for joining the Double D, "Sequins" Challenge.

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  4. Another wonderful card Janis oh so pretty. I love cats too, thanks for joining us at Archi-scraps. Barb H

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  5. I love shakers and yours is fabulous!! Thank you for joining our challenge at Double D!
    Diane DD DT {Nellies Nest}

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  6. Great shaker card and what a wonderful idea to glue a couple on that not everything falls down. Thanks for sharing your creation with us at Crafty Friends, we hope to see you back again.

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  7. Your shaker is great-don't worry about it! I think it turned out great! Thanks for joining us at Die Cut Diva's!

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  8. WOW this is gorgeous! Thanks so much for joining in the fun at our Double D ‘Sequins’ challenge! Good Luck and we hope you’ll come back often.

    Darlene
    DOUBLE D Challenge Blog
    DAR’S CRAFTY CREATIONS Please stop in for a visit!

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  9. I love that you are finding a way to make shakers that work for you! I ADORE shaker cards, but totally understand that they can be hard to put together sometimes! One thing that I've found helps keep sequins from falling all the way to the bottom is to put foam tape as close to the shaker cut out as possible. Then I tap the card on each edge, and typically some of the sequin mix will "stick" in that area for awhile - but it will still shake out too! It works for getting images of your shakers, so people can see the mix! Anyways - I think your card is lovely, and has such a romantic feel to it! Thanks for participating in my shaker love challenge for the W&W 4th Birthday Bash! ♥♥

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  10. hello janis! super fun shaker card, luv the heart shape! I am so glad you played along with us at simon says stamp wednesday challenge!

    blog-paperie blooms
    ig-2klines

    sparkle & shine, kindness *~*

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  11. Sweet shaker card - and your bow again is really pretty! Love it! Thanks for sharing with us at Joy Clair's February Challenge!

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  12. I am turning 60 in March. Yeah to 1058. Your shaker turned out out great. I gave up on those-no matter how hard i tried the glitter and sequins all got caught in the edges. That cartoon is so funny. We have 3 dogs-there is a lot of barf. Thank you for joining the DL.ART Thankful Thursday Challenge

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  13. beautiful shaker card Janis, thank you so much for sharing with us at Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge, hugs kath xxx

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  14. Wonderful shaker card. THanks for joining in Archiscraps again.

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  15. I have such a hard time making shaker cards, your if fabulous! Thanks for joining in at Archiscraps this month.

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  16. A beautiful job making the shaker card and clever too. So glad you joined us at Die Cut Divas.

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  17. What a wonderful card to be created all from scraps! Love it!! Such a great idea to use ziploc baggies for easier shakers, why not? And to glue a few here and there to help hold up the rest of the contents. Thanks for sharing your tips! And for entering in the Scraps challenge again!

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  18. You did a great job on your shaker card. Thanks for joining in at Archiscraps.

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  19. Shaker cards are hard. You have done well. Thanks for joining us at Archiscraps. Dale

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  20. I totally agree with you about making shaker cards. Love them, can't do them. Yours turned out wonderful and you should be proud! Thanks so much for joining in the fun at our Double D 'Sequins' challenge!
    Barbara DT member

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  21. Clever solution + a beautiful card. Love this take on the Archi bling challenge!

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  22. Your shaker card is super pretty and I love the little bow!
    Thanks for joining the D2BA challenge! -Tasha :)

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  23. Your card turned out beautiful! Shaker cards can be the devil's work...UGH. Thank for joining us at LTSCB
    Tina dt

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  24. Oooh, I love all the tips and tricks used for making shaker cards because I usually avoid them for so many reasons. The zip lock baggie is something I plan to try, and I think I may also try using those clear bags that many embellishments come with too. The problem with teeny sequins and beads getting everywhere would be much less if I corral them inside of a bag. The layering of plain and patterned papers, and that heart cut-out give this such a pretty old-fashioned look.

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THANK YOU so much for taking the time to leave a comment. Your kind words encourage me so very much!!!

Have a lovely day!
<3
Janis