Easter Fun Fold

 Happy Thursday AI Friends!

Today I have a couple Fun Fold Easter cards using the #5274 Easter Bunnies, the #5870 Peeking Bunny, and the #5504 Happy Spring sets.  These Easter sets have the cutest little bunnies.  OMGosh sooooo cute!!  Add these images to this fun fold style card and you'll find yourself addicted.  I could have created all night.  I will definitely be making more.

To create these fun folds, I choose the largest circle from the #5064 Double Stitch circle die set for the card on the left and the 4th largest #5062 Rounded Rectangle A2 Double Stitch die for the smaller card.  The following instructions will be for the circle card.  The rectangle card is basically made the same just a different size and shape.  

I cut four circles from white lightweight (80 lb. or less) cardstock and scored each in half.  I then formed the fun fold by overlapping the circles as shown below (the right half over the previous circle right half).  Continue overlapping the circles until all are together.  Make sure to gather them together and square them up tightly.  Place a dab of glue on the back side where they overlap.  Then flip to the front side and dab glue under these overlaps.  Now your fun fold is formed.   

Cut four circles from pattern paper.  I cut two with the largest circle and two with the next size circle.      Cut each of these four circles in half and cut just a tad off the straight side of the larger circles.  The smaller circles are for the front and will recreate a 2-layer look (see below).  Glue the smaller circles to the front (or top) folds, centering up to leave a nice white border.  Glue the larger circles to the inside folds, leaving no border.  

I stamped my one-layer scene onto copic friendly paper with Memento black ink and colored with my copic markers listed below.  I then cut the scene to fit inside the fun fold card (3 1/2 x 3 1/2 inches). Adhere this image to the inside of the card.  Place a ribbon or belly band around the back side and adhere down to the back.  Wrap around and tie or clasp into place.  I added a basket with the bunny bottom for decoration.  Lastly, I glued a 3 1/2 x 3 1/2 top fold card to the back for your sentiment and also to finish off the back side of the card so that the ribbon or belly band will be covered.  This also adds as a nice stand to display your card.

Hope you enjoyed my cards today and I especially hope you'll give this one a try.  Trust me, you will want to create more with different shapes and sizes.  It's addictive! 

Happy creating!!

Copics used:  N0, N1, E21, E23, R20

YR01, YR02, Y13, Y15, Y17

V12, V15, G40, G43, G46

B000, B00, B12, B14

R81, R83, E51, E53, E55

Ultimate Birthday

 Happy Thursday AI Friends!

My card today features the #5405 Mrs. Set.  I thought it represented the "Ultimate Birthday", from the PJs to the glass of wine.  It also fits this week's challenge "Drink Up".  Check out the bi-weekly challenge tab on the Art Impressions blog and join in the fun by entering your card to have a chance at winning a free stamp set of your choice.

I started by stamping the images onto copic friendly paper with Memento black ink and colored with my copic markers listed below.  I then cut each of the images out with their corresponding dies.  For the wine glass in her hand, I colored an extra wine glass from her hat and fussy cut it out, removing the bow.  I cut a slit in her fingers and adhered the wine glass in between.  

I die cut the white frame from the #5768 Decorative Journal Pg. 1 die set.  I love the beautiful edge on that frame.  I typed the sentiment and printed onto a tag from the #5133 Flag Double Stitched dies.  Lastly, the cupcake came from the #5455 Birthday Buggy set.

Thanks for joining me today.  Hope you have a wonderful day.  Happy creating!

Copics used:  E000, E01, E11, E21, E23

R20, R81, R83, R85, R89

YR32, YR35, YR38

C1, YR14, YG25

Pull Up Valentine

 Happy Thursday AI Friends!

Valentine's Day is tomorrow.  Are you ready?  If not, I have a fun little pull up valentine for you with a cute little hidden sentiment using the #5902 Mini Scallop Frame die as well as many other sets listed below.  If you have already finished your valentine's, imagine this for other occasions using balloons, stars, etc. instead of hearts.  

To begin, I took the bear image from the #5521 WC Animal Planters set and stamped onto copic friendly paper with Memento black ink.  I also stamped him to create a reverse image so that I could make his back leg and his left arm since the stamp set has a flower pot hiding both.  To do this, I stamped him onto a smooth silicone mat and then took my paper and pressed it onto the stamped image on the mat.  This will create a reverse image.  Using a misti is helpful incase you need stamp again to darken the image.  I colored both images with my copic markers, listed below.  I then used a wash rag and dabbed some alcohol onto it and lightly pressed it against the body parts of the bear to make him look fuzzy.  I fussy cut all the pieces (bear, back leg and left arm) and pieced him together using some foam tape between his legs.  I also placed a heart box of candy (from the #5493 Front Porch Valentine) in his arms.  I just love this cute little bear!  

I cut the #5902 Mini Scallop Frame using the brown hearts paper from the #5832 Gnome Paper Pack.  I cut a heart shape for the window and placed acetate on the inside of the window.  I also stamped the "You're So Sweet" and added a couple little die cut hearts to the inside.  I then placed a thin line of foam tape to the inside bottom scallop edge so the streamer wouldn't fall through.  I glued up the side of the frame and it is ready to decorate.  Don't forget to attach the easel to the back so your frame/card will stand up on display.

To make the pull up heart streamer, I die cut 16 red hearts (front and back) and strung them onto a white thread leaving about 2 inches above the first heart.  I die cut the letters for the sentiment "Love You" from the #5562 - Journal Letter die set and attached each letter to a heart leaving a blank heart between words.  Perfect size letters to make a cute little sentiment.  I cut two fishtail banner pieces in red cardstock.  I then cut a square 2 5/8 inch piece of red gingham paper and glued it to the bottom half of the back side of one of the fishtail banner pieces.  Snip off any paper showing in between the fishtail.  Take the streamer and glue the top thread to the middle of the banner above the gingham paper.   Take the other fishtail banner and glue the top halves of the banners together leaving the bottom half open so it can rest over the top of the frame.  I added the heart banner and bows to the front banner for some cuteness.

  Gather the heart streamer together over the gingham paper and insert into the top slit of the frame.  Some of the letters will show through the window but the message will be a mystery until the recipient pulls from the frame.

I hope you enjoyed my card today and your imagination is running wild with other variations.

Have a great day and keep creating!

Copics used:  E21, E23, E25

R20, R22, R24, R27

Valentine Pop-Up Card

 Happy Thursday AI Friends!

I have another Valentine card for you today that also fits the current blog challenge - "Highlights".  I used the darling #5005 - Valentine Bears stamp set for my card along with the easel and label dies from the #5902 - Mini Scallop Frame die set.  This is a pop-up card with a lot of dimension but lays flat when put in the envelope.  

I began by stamping the bear and sentiment with memento black ink onto copic friendly paper and colored with my copic markers listed below.  I die cut the sentiment with the label die and fussy cut the bear.  I then added highlights to the bears cheeks, nose, paws and the banner hearts, with a white paint pen.    

I used a set of stitched nesting heart dies that I had in my stash, however you can use any nesting die sets for this pop-up card technique.  I first cut two of the largest hearts with heavy cream colored cardstock.  I took one of those cream hearts and scored at 3/4 inch on the rounded edge of the heart.  Fold on the score and place glue on the top flap.  Adhere to the other cream heart to create the card base.  It should open so that you can add your sentiment to the inside.

I used seven consecutive nesting hearts and cut every other nesting heart from the red cardstock and pattern paper from the other three nesting hearts.  I also die cut several smaller hearts for decoration.  To make the pop-up mechanism, cut three red panels 1" x 2 1/2" and score along the longest side at 1/2", 3/4", 1", 1 1/2", 1 3/4" and 2".  Fold these score lines as MVMMVM (mountain, valley, etc.).  Glue the two ends together by overlapping.  This will create a spring pop-up piece.  Place each of these pieces between the layers.  

Lastly, since the card will not stand on its own due to the point at the bottom of the heart, I die cut an easel using the #5902 - Mini Scallop Frame die set and adhered it to the back of the card, just above the point, where it meets the sides of the heart and then I trimmed off the point just below the easel.

That's it for my card today.  Hope you enjoy it.  Keep creating!

Copics used:  E50, E51, E53, E55

R20, R22, R24, R27

R81, R83, R85