Earthen Textures Meets Joy Fold

Hello Friends!  What a crazy bunch of days we've had lately.  Severe storms with heavy downpours followed by bright sunshine and high tempuratures.  That 2" of rain in 12 hours was a little daunting.  I'd like it if things were just a little more even keeled around here.  But I'm so thankful that we don't have the hassles of flooding in heavy rains anymore.  That's something to rejoice about for sure!  Right?  Today's card is a fun fold that I haven't made in a while, so I had to look for my "cheat sheet" for the cutting dimensions for this idea.  I guess I could put this together without the directions, but having some simple directions really does help.  Do you do that?  Make up a sheet with basic dimensions for cutting and scoring with maybe a picture or a card included?  I find this so helpful when I haven't made a card style in months, or maybe even years!  Yes, when you've been making cards for close to thirty years, a lot of ideas seem to show up every so often.  With a change of colors and stamps, the idea looks all fresh and new.

See what I mean?  Does it look familiar?  Same Joy Fold, but a totally new look.  This card started with the choice of using the Earthen Elegance Designer Series Paper for it.  I chose the print, then started checking the cardstock color choice.  When I started, I planned to use Early Espresso, but the colors together didn't really appeal to me.  After trying several color combos, I settled on Pecan Pie.  There are two pieces needed for the card - 5 1/2" x 7 1/4" scored at 3" for the base, and 4 1/4" x 4 1/4" scored at 1" on one of the sides.

There is a layer of Very Vanilla measuring 5 1/4" x 4" for the inside of the card.  Another vanilla piece that measures 3" x 1 3/4" is for the card front.  

A 3" strip was cut from one side of Earthen Elegance 12" x 12" DSP print.  Make sure the print goes up and down if you have a directional print.  This one strip will be cut into all the extra pieces of DSP used on the card.

Here's a quick peek at the inside of the card.  But I'm getting ahead of myself here!

Let's start by getting the two pieces of Pecan Pie scored and put together.  The smaller side piece has the scored flap attached inside the folded card base.  I used Tear & Tape for this because I really wanted it to stay together.

Next cut the DSP to fit on the left flap of the card.  Cut a piece that's 5 1/4" long.  Trim a 1/4" piece from one of the long sides so this piece fits on the left flap perfectly.  Attach with adhesive.  The next piece is cut at 4".  This will be the inside flap layer.  Attach this with adhesive too.  That leaves you with 2 1/2" left to use on the front of the right flap later.

Let's move on to making the pottery.  The front pot is stamped with Pecan Pie onto Very Vanilla. After die-cutting, the Blending Brush and Pecan Pie was brushed top and bottom and in on the sides.  Leave the middle free for a highlight.  The feathery grasses were stamped with Early Expresso.  After die-cutting, a little Pecan Pie was blended onto this.  The grasses were die-cut from Distressed Gold Specialty Paper.  These pieces were set aside to finish later.

Inside pots - tall one is die-cut from Pecan Pie.  The banding design is cut from Very Vanilla.  After attaching together and trimming ends, the Blending Brush and Pecan Pie was added to the sides and bottom for shaping.

Short pot and handles - were die-cut from Very Vanilla then the pot embossed with the wavy lines.  A good amount of Pecan Pie ink was built up on the pot to show the texture.  After attaching the handles to the pot, an extra bit of blending was done to give the handle section some color and shape.  These pots were attached to the inside of the card with adhesive.

The final pot - was stamped with Early Expresso ink onto Very Vanilla.  Some Pecan Pie was blended onto this to give it a mottled look.  The design band was cut from Distressed Gold Specialty Paper and attached to the pot.  On the inside vanilla layer, a sentiment from Charming Sentiments was stamped in Early Espresso ink.  Along the bottom edge, a few feathery grasses were stamped using Pecan Pie that was off-stamped first to keep it really light.  The Very Vanilla layer was attached inside the card with adhesive.  

Cut the 2 1/2" piece of DSP about in half.  Attach one piece to the top and one to the bottom of the flap.  The Very Vanilla piece that's left over has a sentiment from the Lasting Joy set stamped with Early Espresso ink on the right side.  Along the bottom edge, those feathery grasses were stamped with Pecan Pie ink that was off-stamped first.  It's attached to the flap with adhesive.  It will barely overlap either one or both of the DSP pieces depending on your positioning.  Use Dimensionals behind the pot and grasses to attach it to the front flap.

For just a little bling, three of the Neutrals Adhesive-backed Sequins were attached.  I used the brown color that looked sort of bronze-y to me.  The gold tone ones seemed to jump out at me too much.  Going for subtle here.

Whew!  I think it took longer to write this out than it took to make the card!  lol  Hope you like the looks of this fun fold card.  It's really not too hard to make.  And fun fold cards are always fun to make, but even more fun to receive.  So make someone happy and mail a card today.

Thanks for stopping by today.  Hope you're inspired to give this card a try.  If you don't want to do the fun fold, the pottery and DSP together are awesome!  Did you hear me singing that?

Just a quick reminder that Stampin'Up! has kits on sale this month.  There are some that I think are fabulous and a terrific bargain.  Check them out.  And USE YOUR BONUS COUPONS when you order!!  Don't let that money go to waste.

Happy stamping and creating,

Sharon

ps - just thought you'd like to know we've got another severe storm warning going on this evening, and it's raining softly right now.  We'll see how it goes.