Accordion card for Barbara

I am very pleased and proud of this Accordion Birthday card which I finished yesterday. I love it...

This one took an age to do mainly because apart from knowing I wanted to have Barbara's name running through it I couldn't decide on how to embellish it. so just stared at it for quite some time LOL

Then I raided my collection of dies and punches and found inspiration to bring it all together. Once I actually got going I really enjoyed getting back into my creative card making flow.

so here's what I did...

The base was cut from white card seven times. The framelit type die set is the Elizabeth Craft Fancy Labels Accordion Dies by Karen Burniston. this would give the card stability! I then cut the same die shapes again with scrapbooking papers eight times, (the extra cut was for the other side of the first one! I then cut the centres from the frames and stuck them on to the base card mixing the patterned papers. I didn't want to use big bold papers because the style of the card needed to be more feminine, kinda soft and elegant just like Barbara.

I used the smaller label dies from the set using pink and white card to layer onto the centres and used my set of Sizzix Sizzlets Curlz alphabet to cut the letters for Barbara's name..... then I was a bit lost for a while but finally after thinking for far too long! I used the Petite Petals rubber stamps from Stampin' Up with the matching punch to create the flowers they are just the right size for this project. The bird builder punch was just right for creating the leaves and  I added sticky back pearls for the flower centres (I noticed one had fallen off before I gave it but after the photo's had been taken ggrrrr!!).
After sticking all the little tabs to assemble the concertina of the
accordion card I used my Tattered Lace Rose corner die for the swirly bits and used the Tattered Lace Dove, and a Butterfly die on top I also used my Marianne Design little bird on branch die and some more butterflies some of which were cut using the Stampin' Up Butterfly Embosslits such a useful little thing which cuts and embosses at the same time 5 differently sized and styled butterflies.
I chose not to put happy birthday on it as first planned so that if Barbara choose to, she can display it after her birthday  the final step was to print a message for the back of the card and job done!

This was quite a time consuming card so I don't think I will ever make them to sell but to be honest Barbara is well worth it...Happy Birthday Barbara. I always make her a very different card, last year it was a box card with lots of sunflowers in it but to be honest I haven't a clue how I will beat this one!

I'm entering this creation into some challenges as follows
Fantastic Tuesday : Anything Goes + Flowers
Crafty Gals Corner : Flowers
Wags N Whiskers : Lots of Layers
Penny's Paper Crafty : More Than One Fold
Pink Gems : More Than One Fold
Inspiration Destination : Anything Goes
Suzy Bees Bloomin' : Anything Goes + Pink
Sister Act : Anything Goes
(click on the challenge name to go to their website)
Well its definitely pink, has some stamped and die cut flowers and much more than one fold and lots of layers!...
here's hoping for a win, I find it so encouraging when i win even if there's no prizes :o)

thanks for dropping by!
please leave a comment before you leave :o)

Side Step Card & Cute Knitting Die Cuts

The Christmas cards are still a work in progress, to be honest I keep changing my mind on exactly what I wanna do so I'm still thinking that through especailly which papers to use so I wanted to try something totally different today... I browsed on Pinterest (a favourite armchair activity lol) and I found samples of side step cards I have only ever created centre step cards so I decided I really had to have a go! theres even one based on a semicircle but that's for another day LOL!

I needed to make a thank you card for my close friend Kath, she has been helping me to make some preemie baby hats for another friends littlle baby girl who was born very early. Kath has made the knitted ones while I have made some crochet ones. I love how realistic these Marianne Design die cuts have turned out. I embossed them then used a promarker to accent the embossing.

This is the front view of the side step card I made today. As well as the the Marianne Design die set I mentioned earlier I also used the Tattered Lace ornamental rose die. The thank you circle is a small clear stamp which was stamped then heat embossed in silver and cut with a circle die. I used a silver marker to colour the knitting needles, they look quite realistic!

I have wanted to participate in some card challenges for a while but I always seem to miss the deadlines or tiredness and my health problems get in the way, However, I am gonna break that cycle now and enter this card into a few challenges, kinda like getting back into what I really love to do...card making and scrapbooking! actually playing with all things pertaining to papercrafting.

CHALLENGES
Here's the challenges I'm entering this card into,
Select the name as this is linked to the relevent website
Inspiration Destination.....Anything Goes
Sisters Of Craft.....Anything Goes
Little Red Wagon.....Giving Thanks
Creative Knockouts.....Thankful
In The Pink.....Fancy Folds and Pink
Crafty Hazelnuts.....Use Patterned Papers All Over the Card
The Sisterhood of Crafters.....Think Pink (breast cancer awareness)

Im feeling really happy now that I have learned a new card shape
but even more so that I have been back into card challenges again
But mostly because I like this card (I am usually over critical) and the recipient will love it


thanks for stopping by , I hope you have a great week
please leave me a comment before you go!