Pop Up Easter Easel Box

 Happy Thursday AI Friends!

I found this cute little easel box on youtube and thought I would create one for Easter.  Have you ever fallen down the rabbit hole (no pun intended) when viewing youtube videos or even pinterest?  I love seeing all the creative ideas out there but, man, I get hooked and then away I go.

One of my favorites sites and where I found this box is The Paper Pixie.  If you click on that link, it will take you to her box instructions.  Box measures 3" x 3".  

Here's my version using Art Impressions #5742 - Easter PP and the #5870 - Peeking Bunny set.

When you pull on the ribbon, the box opens and the easel pops up.  I wanted to grab some easter candies and fill the box before I took the picture, but I went to the store and forgot the candy.  😬

I just LOVE the easel on the box top and how it pops up.  Sooo fun!

Thanks for joining me today!  Hope you have a fantastic day!

Keep creating!

Copics used:  E50, E51, E53, E55, E95

N0, N1,       R20, R81, R83

B12, B14       V12, V15

G40, G43         YR20, YR23

Easter Pop Up card

 Hello AI Friends!

I'm soooo excited!  I drew the lucky straw when I was picked to be the feature for this challenge.  I love making interactive/fun fold cards so when they said "3D", I said "Oh Yeah".  I decided to make an Easter Pop-up card.  What I love about this type of card, is you get to add soooo many images all on one card.   I used the #6008 - Bunny Hugs and the #5870 - Peeking Bunny sets.  So many of Art Impressions stamp sets go together so it's great to mix and match.  Makes for endless design possibilities!

Here is my finished card but follow below for more pics and instructions on how I created it.

I began by stamping several images onto copic friendly paper with Memento black ink and colored with my copic markers listed below.  Once all of these images were colored, I cut each of them out with their corresponding dies that are included in the stamp sets.  

Remember decorating Easter eggs when you were little?  Trying to decide what design to paint was always problematic for me.  It seems that dilema has carried into my adult years.  😬  However, it is still just as fun but not nearly as messy.  LOL!

To create this standing pop up card, I cut four panels (staggered heights) of heavy weight green cardstock.  Each panel is 7 3/4" long.  I then scored, along the long side, at 1/2, 1, 1 1/2 and 2 from both sides.   I used a few different grassy dies from my stash and cut each panel so that you have varied heights.  I then folded and burnished each of the score lines.  I cut the grass part off on each panel to the third score line on each side.  Leave the last score section in place so, when folded, that section will wrap around the side.

This picture shows how each layer will overlap the one behind.  If any seem too high for you, trim off the bottom of that panel.  

I made four layers, but when I did a test assemble, I decided to omit the front layer and cut off the scored sections.  I adhered it directly to the second layer leaving the grassy part unglued so that I could tuck in the chicks. This is a matter of your preference.  You could include more layers or reduce, like I ended up doing.

Now we are going to wrap the sides creating a little box shape on either side of each panel.  

Turn the panel upside down and fold two of the score sections upwards.  Place glue on the end section (see below - Pic 1) and fold over to meet the last score line (Pic 2) creating the box shape (see Pic 3).

                                         Pic 1                                        Pic 2

   Pic 3

Do that last step for each of the green panels.  They should look like this when standing together.

I added a few extra grassy panels so I could tuck eggs and such into them like a pocket.   

 If you choose to do like I did, die cut a few grassy flat panels that are 3 3/4" wide.  These should fit perfectly on the front of any of these sections.  I adhered one of the extra grassy pieces to the second panel.  Glue that piece directly to the panel, but leave the grassy tips unglued so you have room to tuck. 

  Now, adhere each layer together by placing glue to the back of the box shape only and make sure to line up the sides nicely with the next panel. 

  For the very back panel, I cut a piece of 3 3/4" x 5 of white heavy cardstock and adhered a piece of 3 x 3 3/4" of the cloud pattern paper from the #5873 - Mini Birthday PP to the top.  I then cut a piece of heavy green cardstock with the grassy die and adhered to the back panel leaving the top grassy tips unglued, again for tucking.  I also added one of the extra grassy pieces to this layer.  

Now, for the really fun part - decorating!  Place your images on/in the layers, tucking as you choose.  Make sure to glue them down unless you want the recipient to be able to rearrange the eggs.  

This card will lay flat and fit an A2 size envelope.  Also, the back has plenty of room for your sentiment.  

Thanks for joining me today!  I hope you will enter your "3D" creation in this challenge for a chance to win a free stamp set of your choice.  We love seeing your creations!

Have a wonderful day and keep creating!

Copics used:  E50, E51, E53, E55, E95

N0, N1     R11, R20, R81, R83

Y00, Y23      YR20, YR12, YR31

RV42      G40, G43

V12, V15    B0000, B00, B12, B14

Pickleball Wobble

 Happy Thursday AI Friends!

The Art Impressions people stamps are a huge hit with me!  Bonnie does such a fantastic job with the characters and their facial expressions.  When she created this last set of AI People, I was in love and then she added papers to fit each.  What a wonderful way to create a card in a hurry!  Plus I added a wobble behind her and now she plays with a wiggle.  LOL!

My card today uses #6074 - Pickleball Patty and #6097 - Pickleball PP.

I started by stamping the image onto copic friendly paper with memento black ink and colored with my copic markers listed below.  I cut the image out using the corresponding die included with the stamp set.  I also cut a second one with blank cardstock and glued to the back of the colored image.  I then added an action wobble to her back and adhered to the pattern paper.  She actually wobbles when she plays now.  

 Lastly, I added the sentiment, a bow and a pickleball pin.

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

Keep creating!

Copics used:  E00, E01, E11, E21, E23

T0, T2, T4, T6

R20, R22, R24

Y000, Y13, Y15

YG41, YG45

Birthday Wishes

 Happy Thursday AI Friends!

My card today was inspired by the current blog challenge called "It's in the Mail".   I took this challenge literally and combed through all of my stamp sets to locate the perfect mailbox to go with this lady from the #5114 - Never Too Old Laugh Lines.  I found the mailbox in the #5930 - Santa's Workshop stamp set.  

I needed to make a birthday card for my sister and I just think this lady is hilarious.  My sister didn't find her nearly as funny until I told her the lady was representing me mailing her card not her receiving it.  😂

Maybe I should add a wink wink here too.  LOL! 

Anyway, back to the card.  I stamped the images onto copic friendly paper with Memento black ink and colored with my copic markers listed below.  I then cut each out with the corresponding dies.  

I decided to make it a fun fold easel card by cutting a 4 1/4" x 9 3/4" piece of cardstock.  I scored it along the long side at 1 1/4, flipped the cardstock over and scored it at 5 1/2" keeping the other score line to your left.  Fold and burnish the score lines in opposite directions.   

I cut orange cardstock pieces to fit each of the scored sections and also adhered a piece of pattern paper to fit nicely on each of the orange mats.

Die cut two ovals with the #5065 - Oval Double Stitch dies.  One in pattern paper and the other in textured white.  For the base oval, I used the #5727 - Nested Oval dies.  Glue those three ovals together and adhere the top edge only to the 1 1/4" folded edge.  When opened, the oval piece will stand up on the bottom layer.  I added the colored images to this panel using foam dots for dimension.

To finish, I stamped the sentiment from the #5735 - Birthday Sentiments and partial die cut using the #5062 Rounded Rectangle A2 Double Stitch die.  I added an oval piece of white cardstock to the inside of the card (behind the image panel) for my birthday message and a few purple embellishments to the corners.

Well, that's my card for today.  Thanks for joining me!  

Hope you have a wonderful day and keep creating!

Copics used:  E000, E00, E11, R20, R24

C00, C1, C3, C5

V12, V15, V17

BG10, BG23, BG53

G40, G43, G46

Y11, Y13, Y32, Y35, Y38

Hello Sunshine

 Happy Thursday AI Friends!

Have you seen the newest AI release?  This one is fantastic!  I know, I probably say that about every one of them, but let's be real - they ALL are fantastic!  This is definitely a fave of mine!

Two new stamp sets were released - #6103 - Baby Keepsake and #6106 - Spring Keepsake, which is the one I used for my pop out card.

I stamped the images onto copic friendly paper with Memento black ink and colored with my copic markers listed below.  I cut each of them out with the corresponding dies that are included in the set.  Love it when dies are included, don't you?  Adds so much dimension!  Check out this cute little frog!  He is definitely my favorite, however, the bunny and duck are just as adorable.  

I created a pop out card so that I could layer each of these cute little images.  I added a few images from other sets, like the flowers in the water can (#5935 Fairytale Houses), the Easter basket (#5869 - Easter Bunny Puppet) and the bird (#5100 - Woodland Tree cubbies).  The sun was from my stash.

I used the #6009 - Basic Green PP for the grass and the #5873 - Mini Birthday PP for the cloud background.

That's it for me today!  Make sure to check out the new release!   It includes some beautiful valentine papers and a new scalloped rectangle die set.  Great bundle!

Hope you have a wonderful day!  Keep creating!

Copics used:  N0, N1, N2, B000

G20, G21, G24      V12, V15

R02, R05, R08, R20

B12, B14           YR12, YR16

Y11, Y13, Y17, Y19, Y32, Y35, Y38

Let it Snow - Pop out Interactive card

       Happy Thursday AI Friends!

I'm so excited to be the one to introduce the new AI blog challenge called "Flurries Forecasted"!  I'm not quite ready for the snowy weather but I'm sure ready to add snow flurries to my cards, tags and projects.  Hope you are just as ready as I am and decide to play along with us!

You may have noticed that I love interactive cards, so yep, I have a fun one for you today using the 

#5929 - Christmas Train set along with some accessories from the #5489 - Front Porch Christmas set.

I love the way these sets work together so that you can combine and stretch their use.

The video below will show how this card opens and stores.  When folded it's an A2 card, but pops open to be approx. 5 1/2 x 12" wide.  Because of the panels that extend out, the card is much thicker than a standard A2 card and will need a larger envelope plus additional postage, if mailing.  

So to get started - I stamped the images with Memento black ink onto copic friendly paper and colored with my copic markers listed below.  I then die cut each of the images with the coordinating dies that are included in both of the stamp sets.  For the two penguins rolling down the snowy hill (on the front of the card), I die cut an extra one, out of heavy cardstock, and adhered to each to give a little extra weight for them to roll better.  I die cut various size snowflakes using the #5353 - Large Snowflake dies from glitter cardstock.  I also cut several trees out of the #5853 - Christmas Magic PP using a die set from my stash but any pine tree dies will work nicely. 

Now, we're ready to build the card.  I started with a standard top fold A2 card from heavy cardstock.  I scored at 5 3/8" as well as the 5 1/2".  This will allow the folds to come up and over the thickness of the final card.  Fold and burnish these score lines really well.  Hint:  I found that my card stood up better if I trimmed off about 1/2" from the bottom of the back panel.  The inside pop out card is cut from heavy cardstock and measures 4 3/4" x 9 1/4".  Score at 1", 3 3/4" and 6 1/2".  This will provide you with three panels that are 2 3/4" wide.  This is a nice size for each of the train cars.  Score and burnish these folds quite a few times back and forth to help breakdown the fibers.

For the front of the card, cut two slider tracks in blue cardstock, far enough apart so that the penguins won't bump into each other when then roll.  I also cut three blue panels to fit each panel of the fold out base.  I spattered Dr. PH Martin Bleed Proof white paint over each of the blue panels to create the snow-like look.  While those were drying, I cut two panels of glitter cardstock (larger than the front A2 blue panel) and cut the same tracks to match up to the ones on the blue base and I fussy cut each to extend the top of the hill.  I found it easier to cut the glitter panels down after lining the tracks up with the blue panel.  I inked the edges with Ranger Distress Oxide ink - Broken China before adhering and used foam tape for the bottom hillside.  Adhere the hillsides down onto the blue base panel matching up the corresponding tracks and leaving some areas to tuck the trees.  The bottom glitter panel will be stacked over the top panel to create a forward hill.  

To create the rolling penguins, I die cut six 5/8" discs from heavy cardstock (or you can use a penny, button or anything flat and round).  Glue one set of three discs together for each penguin.  Stack and glue two foam dots in the middle of each disc (making sure the dot will fit freely in the slider track).  Place the dots through the slider track from back to front and glue the penguin to the top of the dot poking through the track.  Do the same for the other penguin and track.  You should be able to test to make sure they roll freely at this point.  If all is good, place two layers of foam tape to the back of the blue panel.  Be careful not to place foam tape too close to either slider track as this will prevent the penguins from rolling.  Test again before adhering.  Place a piece of glitter cardstock face down over the tape, so that the glitter will show through the tracks, and then glue down to the front of the A2 card. 

Now, for the extended pop out card.  Glue the one inch tab to the inside back panel of the A2 card base.  See below.

Cut several snow drifts from glitter cardstock.  For the two main snow hills, I cut two long ones (different heights), ink the top edges and then cut into thirds so that the hillsides with match up from one panel to the next.  I put foam tape under the front hillside so that the train cars will fit behind with a little dimension.  This is the only dimension I did so that the panels would fold nicely.  If there are too many pop up items, the panels will not fold.  I added a few scrap pieces in back for added snowy hills. 

 

I added a blue panel to the inside as well as a sentiment panel.  Fold your panels in to make sure it is closing nicely.  They should fold in as follows:  right panel closes onto center, then under left and then into the card.  If you are having any trouble, you may have to trim down the blue panels slightly. 

Now the fun, you are ready to decorate the front and each of the panels.  Remember not to add any more dimension to the inside panels.  Foam tape, at this point, is not your friend.  ;)  

However, the front is fair game.  Have fun!

I hope you enjoyed my card today to kick off the new blog challenge "Flurries Forecasted".  

Hope you play along for a chance to win a free stamp set.  We love to see your creations!

Have a wonderful day!  Keep creating!!

Copics used:  C00, C1, C3, C5

B0000, B000, B00, B01

E21, E23

R20, R22, R24, R27

Y32, Y35    YR16, YR18

G40, G43, G46

Spider Mania

 Happy Thursday AI Friends!

Halloween was never one of my favorite holidays, but now, with all of these cute sets from Art Impressions, it has climbed the ladder to second.  I can't seem to stop creating with all of these images and since Halloween is tomorrow, I thought I'd share two projects.  Both of these were inspired by the "Along Came A Spider" challenge currently on the blog.  

The card below is a pop up frame card.  Push the sides in and the frame pop ups and away from Frankie.  When the sides are pulled out, the card flattens to a 5 x 7 for mailing.  Frankie's legs also wiggle side to side as well as his eyes.  I used #6120 - Frankenstein Puppet, #5604 - Halloween Journal dies and the #5462 - Web dies set to create this card plus added a few sets of wiggle eyes (check out the little spidey on the left).  LOL!

To make the card, cut two pieces of 5 x 7" black cardstock.  Score both pieces at 1/2", 1", 6" and 6 1/2" along the 7" side.  For the front, fold one piece as valley, mountain, mountain and valley (V,M,M,V) and the back piece, fold just the opposite (M,V,V,M).  I recommend you decorate both pieces at this point so you can lay flat to glue decorations securely.  You can place Frankie inside the frame at the end to position him just where you want him.  Glue the front and back ends together with the 1/2" tabs on each side.

To make the dancing Frankie, cut all the pieces with the puppet die set, but hold up on the pants.  You will need to cut an extra shirt piece from scrap cardstock.  For the pants, you will need to stretch his legs.  To do this, you will need to partial cut the legs up to the top of his pants by placing your cutting plate just under the cut line (of the top of the pants) so that it won't cut.  Then free hand cut an additional 1/2" for the top of the pants (see below).  I also rounded off the top corners of his pants.  At the top of the pants (about 1/4" from top), punch a hole big enough for a pop dot to fit through freely.  You may have to snip a little bit of the hole to make it larger.  Place one side of the pop dot to the back of his shirt.  Place the pants with the hole over the pop dot.  Place foam tape onto the back side of the shirt and adhere the extra shirt piece onto the pop dot and foam tape.  The legs should move freely at this point.  Decorate the rest of your Frankie as you desire.  Glue him into place inside your frame card.

To make the ghost tag, I used the scraps from my card above.  This is always a great way to use up your scraps and create an extra tag, card, etc. for future.   I die cut the ghost, spider and banner from the #6111 - Spooktacular set.  The bow from the #5811 - Gift card pocket die set and the spider webs from the #5604 - Halloween Journal die set.  I inked the ghost with black distress oxide ink and glued to a black die cut ghost to use as a shadow.  Decorated her with cute little wiggle eyes and a bow on top of her head.  I die cut two banners (one in black for the shadow) and wrote the word "spider!" across the white one.  I cut the bow from scraps and attached a spider web behind it and placed a spider on top.  Added a few more webs, spiders, ribbon on top and a little red heart and the tag is finished.

I hope you enjoyed my projects today.  Thanks for stopping by!  

Make sure to enter the challenge and show us your creation of "Along Came A Spider".  We love to see what you create!!

Happy Halloween!  Keep on Creating!

Copics used:  R20, T0, T2, T4

Sit, Stay, Heal flip card by Dori Mendiola

 Happy Thursday AI Friends!

Today I have an interactive get well card using the #AICS38 - Doggy Kisses set.  When you open the card, the image flips to the inside. 

 I started by stamping the images with Memento black ink onto copic friendly paper and colored with my copic markers listed below.  I die cut the images using the #5065 Oval Double Stitch and the #5135 Hexagon Double Stitch dies.  I fussy cut and popped up the kleenex and tea cup using foam tape.  I die cut an oval into the front of the card panel and used the blue inner panel for the flip base.

For the mechanism - cut a piece of cardstock 2 3/4" x 3" and score at 3/4, 1 1/2 and 2 1/4 along the 3" side.  Fold and crease the score lines to create a tube.  Place glue on the underside of the first fold area only.  Glue down to the inside fold of the card.  Fold the tube in half and place glue on the upper fold area only.  Bring the top half of the card over and shut on top of the tube piece.  The tube will show through the top of the card, but the image panel will cover when closed. 

 

Now cut a piece of cardstock 3/4" x 2 1/4".  Score in thirds along the long edge (3/4" each piece).  Glue one 3/4" tab to the top of the tube piece in the center.  Fold the other end upwards and lay the tube down flat so that the card is shut.  Place glue on the upwards tab only.  Place the blue image panel into the front oval cutout area and adhere it onto the tab with the glue.  The image panel will pop up thru the oval cutout on the front of the card when shut and it will pop thru to the inside of the card when opened.

Decorate your card with sentiments, ribbon, etc.

Thank you for joining me today!  Hope you have a wonderful day!

Keep creating!

Copics used:  N0, N1, R20

E50, E51, E53, E55

E41, E42, E44

E33, E35

BG70, BG72, BG75

Hello 4th

 Happy Independence Day AI Friends!

WOW!  Have you seen the newest release of papers at Art Impressions?  Holy cow!  I couldn't stand it, I had to put a card together using the new #6090 - Patriotic paper pack.  Although a lot of the papers are 4th of July themed, there are many that can be used for any occasion.  The patterns are incredible and the colors are vibrant and fantastic.  Make sure to check them out!  I can't wait to design with the rest of the pack!!!

I started out by stamping the images from the #5452 - Swing Window set onto copic friendly paper and coloring them with my copic markers, listed below.  The little puppy has a coordinating die that comes with the set so you can pop him up, if you choose.  

I used the #5408 - Shadowbox Window Die to display the image and then I created an interactive venetian blind which was inspired by a Technique Tuesday die tutorial that I found on YouTube.

To create without the die:  Cut a piece of pattern paper 2 3/4" by 4 7/8".  Score every 3/4" along the longest side.  Before folding, punch a small hole, approx. 1/8" in, between each score line on both sides for the strings.  Try to center punch each of the holes, but it does not have to be perfect.  Fold each of the score lines into peaks and valleys.  The valley end should be at the top, this is the side that adheres to the base.  Thread a string up both sides leaving the loose ends at the top.  Thread a bead or knot the loose ends for the string pulls.  Adhere the valley side of the blinds down to the base by placing glue between the string holes.  Make sure to place glue only between the holes or the mechanism won't work. 

 

Valance:  Cut the valance out of another piece of pattern paper and partial die cut with the #6047 - Scalloped Square third largest die (should measure 3 1/4" wide by 3/4" tall).  Make a slight snip on either side at the bottom scallop to hold the string when pulled up.  Pop the valance up with foam tape and adhere just above the top of the blinds.

The bow and the flag heart are fussy cut from the pattern papers of the same paper pack.  Makes great accents!  The Hello die cut is part of the Shadowbox Window die set.

Thanks for joining me today.  Hope you have a wonderful and safe 4th of July weekend.

Keep creating!!

Copics used:  E000, E01, E11, E21, E23, E25, E50, E51, E53, E55

Y13, R20, R22, R24, R27

G20, G21, G24, G28

B0000, B000, B00, B32, B37

Christmas Magic

 Happy Thursday AI Friends!

Today I have a Christmas card inspired by the "Leon" blog challenge.  "Leon" is Noel backwards and since we are halfway to Christmas, a "Leon" challenge makes perfect sense.  Now is the time to start getting in the mood for creating our annual Christmas cards/tags/etc.  Hope you will join us and enter the blog challenge for a chance to win a free stamp set of your choice. 

I used the #5775 - Front/Back Santa.  He is just the cutest peeking Santa Claus!  I also used the presents in the #5457 - Christmas Truck set.

I began by stamping the santa and the presents on copic friendly paper with Memento black ink and coloring with my copic markers listed below.  I then die cut each of the images with the corresponding dies that come in each of the sets.  I added Dr. PH Martin's bleed proof white paint to Santa's fur.

I cut three trees from the #5853 - Christmas Magic PP using a die I had in my stash.  I scored each tree in half and glued the fold into the next scored tree until all three trees were adhered together by the folds.  This allows for the trees to flair out for dimension.   I adhered the stripe pattern paper onto a green base and then added a strip of red cardstock to the bottom.  I then glued the bottom tree stack, at the fold, to the pattern paper card base.  I glued the santa front to the third layer tree and adhered his backside to the back of that layer.  I adhered the colored presents on each layer at the base of the trees.

Lastly, I added streamers to the tree, the sentiment, bow and jewels.  

I hope you enjoyed my "Leon" card and you enter the challenge.  We love to see what you all create!

Have a great day and keep creating!

Copics used:  E000, E01, E11

N0, N2, N4

R20, R22, R24, R27

Y13, Y15, Y17, Y26

BG53, BG57

G24, G28