I generally always make 4.25x5.5 inch cards either vertical or horizontal simply because you can get 2 out of an 8.5x11 inch piece of cardstock and of course they fit the SU! envies perfectly but, every once in a while it's fun to step out and try something different. Here are a couple of my recent experiments:
This first one is called a Tri-Shutter card and it really intrigued me when I spotted a similar one on Split Coast Stampers. I searched around until I found a tutorial for it and I was pleasantly surprised to find out just how easy it was to make! (Tutorial Here) I had to adjust the measurements a little for my card as I had already made the tree on the front panel and did not want to have to cut it down. I also chose to use our great 'To the Nines" specialty paper instead of plain cardstock so I did not have to do much additional decorating.
The front image was done by brayering yellows and oranges on glossy cardstock then stamping the tree and such in chocolate chip ink. To get the moon/sun I simply made a mask by punching a circle out of a sticky note and then brayered right over it. I also chose to add a little more depth around the edges by sponging on some chocolate chip ink.
Ha! I just noticed that my daughter plunked her water glass in the shot right before I took this pic! But,I guess if I really wanted professional looking pics I would invest in some sort of a light tent or something! Anyhow, here are the deets:
{Recipe}
Stamps: Branch Out, Full of Life,
Paper: To the Nines Specialty DSP, chocolate chip, very vanilla, sahara sand, Glossy White
Inks: Chocolate chip, Always Artichoke, Creamy Caramel, Barely Banana, So Saffron, Summer Sun, Pumpkin Pie, Tangerine Tango, Ruby Red
Tools & Acc.: Brayer, full heart punch, 1-1/4 circle punch, scallop edge punch, wide oval punch, ticket corner punch, chocolate chip cord buttons, linen thread, glue dots, Tombo multi, stampin sponges
This last card was loads of fun to do, I have long been an admirer of punch art but, only rarely tried it myself. Punch art is a great thing to do when you need a certain image for your card that you don't have a rubber stamp for. I needed a Bday card for my daughter's dragon loving little friend but, I didn't have an even remotely dragonish stamp. The hinged egg card was inspired by the many many hinged cards that came out on SCS around easter of this year. I created the punched dragon after looking at piles of different punched animals again on SCS. If you ever want to figure out how to make a certain object or character with punches I highly suggest doing a search of the SCS galleries for “punch art” + “animal/object desired”. There are some uber talented punch artists out there, and it's a great source for inspiration! 
{Recipe}
Stamps: None!
Paper: Tempting turquoise, lovely lilac, pixie pink, gable green, green galore, wild wasabi (retired-shhh!), whisper white, basic black
Inks: same as papers for sponging + Basic Black Marker
Tools & Acc.: Sponges, craft knife, rhinestone brad, Colluzle (also retired) Punches: literally every circle and oval SU! makes, small star, five petal flower.
Wow it took me 4 days to create this post because my little fellah is teething (already!!) and I could not get more than a couple minutes at a time to work on this. I guess in the future if you see a post that only has a pic. you'll know that I had another crazy week and I will add details as I can!!
Happy Stampin'!
My husband really wanted his own copy of this photo for work so I thought I would scrap it up a bit for him. 
This card was made using some of my daughters art, of course I could not convince her to use any other color than purple so I had to get creative with the colour scheme to make it more masculine. 
This card I made for my Papa, I know it's an odd combitnation but, we always had daxies (wiener dogs) growing up and my dad has really gotten into wine making lately! 
Cards don't always have to make sense do they? I guess I was in a bit of an odd mood making this one for my father inlaw...I just had to use that adorable raccoon!! 
And finally...the reason I so desperately need a door on my craft room.... Apparently rolls of ribbon are far too tempting to a three year old!!! I was just glad to have recently removed my retiring ribbons from the bar!
Happy Stampin'!
