Hello stampers and happy Wednesday to you. Today I am sharing a gorgeous Dutch Door card from Karen Silvester. There are several variations of the Dutch Door card but this one is the most simple and easy to make. I love it so much and yet I rarely make this style of card. Thanks for the inspiration Karen!

Chaplin, Saskatchewan

Karen wrote me the most lovely letter in her beautiful cursive script:  “Sending you a card from Chaplin, Saskatchewan, July 17 on the prairies. A hot, blue sky relaxing at the lake”. Karen tells me that her favourite Stampin’Up! product is the amazing patterned paper and that shows on this card. She also loves stamping on patterned paper and I agree; that look is so wonderful. Where is Chaplin, Saskatchewan? It is a niny town of less than 300 inhabitants quite far north, between Moose Jaw and Swift Current. There are lots of lakes including Lake Chaplin. I have never been to the prairies, but I have heard that the expanse of sky and the vast prairie landscape is quite breathtaking.

Karen’s Card

Karen’s beautiful Dutch Door card features the stamp set Tasteful Touches which does NOT have a die for the flowers just so you know. They are relatively easy to fussy cut but we sure do get addicted to our dies don’t we? Karen cut the leaves with the Forever Flourising dies and then cut them apart. She purposely chose to make a card with these flowers to make it more meaningful for Gerard and I because he works in the flower industry and we are surrounded by so many flowers here in the Westland region of the Netherlands. Petal Pink Blends were used to colour these pretty flowers and Karen also used the wooden leaves as a beautiful accent.

How to Make a Dutch Door Card

It’s quite simple really. You just cut away the top part of the card front! The easiest way to see how it is done is to simply watch my YouTube video. When your card is cut at 4 1/4″ by 11″ and scored at 5 1/2″, you simply put it in the paper trimmer with the short edge along the top. Place your card at the two inch mark and cut until you get to the score line. Then rotate the card and cut along the score line to the top of the card so that piece is cut away completely.

My Version of the Dutch Door Card

I don’t have the supplies on hand to recreate Karen’s card, but I do have the Playful Pets paper and coordinating ribbon. It was so nice to have a great card as an inspiration for mine. Next time I will definitely take the time to glue the patterned paper to a solid cardstock, either white or black before cutting out the animals.

When you open the  card you can see the pattern on the back of the dogs and I think it would look better if it was a solid colour. Isn’t it great though that you can create a fun card with just paper and cardstock? I guess that isn’t completely true; I did use stamps in the inside for the sayings.

I have been wanting to use the saying from Here’s a Card ever since I saw it! Isn’t it just perfect with that dog with the funky hair? I know that when I have a bad hair day I just put it up in a messy bun. Easy to do with curly hair!! What a beautiful mess you are!! That is what I need to say to myself more often. You too?

Friends Across the Ocean

One of the wonderful things about being a Stampin’Up! demonstrator is that you make friends all over the world. My path crossed with Minke Brattinga when I saw her beautiful “Dutch Touch” cards on the Demonstrator Planning Place Facebook group. I asked to copy them and built a fun class around her wonderful work. We stayed in contact and when I came to Holland three years ago I stayed at her place, went to a neighbourhood party and taught a workshop at her studio the next day. What a whirlwind of fun. Yesterday we met for coffee and she had made me a great card using her very own product line! She’s an amazing person. Minke had watched my Facebook live video and then made a Dutch Door card too. Here it is for you to see too.

If you want to check out MInke’s blog you can do so by clicking here. Her entire business was built to honour her sister.

Mystery Host Contest

Did you know that there are only a few days left to earn Bonus Days coupons? Until August 3 you can earn a $6 Bonus Bucks coupon with every $60 that you spend. If you place an online order using the current host code 3TUB7Q2V then you will be entered into a contest to win the free host benefits. There is also some time to send in a card for my Happy Mail in Holland contest. Not only will I blog about your card and where you are from, you will be entered into a draw for a stamp set of your choice up to $30. I will send it to you anywhere in the world. Yes, this contest is open to everyone!!

Thanks for joining me today, I appreciate you. It helps me so very much if you take the time to pin my cards or share on Facebook. Of course I always love reading your comments too. Have a super day!!

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