Lovely Arrangements Fun Fold

Hello my friends!  Are you having a good day?  I feel like I'm on a roll with getting this card finished and still have time to share it on a blog post today.  Don't you love it when things actually come together like you think they will?  It doesn't happen often so you need to enjoy it while you can!  Since I haven't made any fun folds in a while, it seemed like today would be a good day to do that.  I've shared before that fun folds are not what I'm good at - not at all!  But I have found some fairly simple ones over the years that I enjoy making, and the card today is one of those simple fun folds.  Today's card features the Brushed with Beauty Designer Series Paper.  This is such a pretty pack of paper.  I love the color mix, and the prints are great for designing.  Let's dive right into this card.

Here's the card all folded up and ready to go into the envelope.  You can see that the DSP really makes up the basis of the card with the folds giving the card its stability.  Let me give you all the information on cutting the pieces first and then we'll cut and score the DSP and put it together.

Using the Branching Out dies:

3rd largest - Mossy Meadow

4th largest - Very Vanilla

5th largest - Very Vanilla

Cut Very Vanilla cardstock at 2 1/2" x 5" and

1/2" x 2 1/2" (sentiment)

Also cut a 2" strip of Very Vanilla for die-cutting flowers

Cut Mossy Meadow cardstock at 2 5/8" x 5 1/8"  and 5/8" x 2 5/8" (sentiment layer)

Also cut a 2" strip of Mossy Meadow for cutting leaves

In the center area of both Very Vanilla Branching Out die-cuts, use a Blending Brush and Crumb Cake ink to lightly add a blush of color.  This will help the flowers stand out from the vanilla background.

Stamp two larger flowers and one smaller flower with the Lovely Arrangements stamps.  Use Crumb Cake ink and add Early Expresso marker onto the stamens before stamping onto the Very Vanilla strip.  Die-cut these 3 flowers with the matching dies.

Also stamp 3 clusters of three leaves using Mossy Meadow ink on Mossy Meadow cardstock.  Die-cut these with matching dies.  Die-cut the 2 single leaves from Mossy Meadow cardstock.

Stamp the birthday sentiment from the Lovely Arrangements set onto the 1/2" piece of Very Vanilla cardstock.  Use Mossy Meadow ink for this.

On the smaller vanilla Branching Out die-cut, stamp the first part of the sentiment (from Perennial Postage set) at the top with Mossy Meadow ink.  Clean and dry the stamp well, then ink up the 2nd part of the sentiment and stamp it at the bottom of the die-cut.

Stamp another sentiment from the Perennial Postage set onto the larger Very Vanilla piece for the inside of the card.  Use Mossy Meadow for this again.

Ok, I think we've got everything stamped, die-cut and ready to go.

Cut the Brushed with Beauty DSP print to measure 11 1/4" x 5 1/2".  Then score at 1", 4", and 7".  Fold this to make a W fold with the short flap on the left side.

Since this picture is right here, we'll start from the back.  Attached the vanilla to the mossy cardstock with adhesive.  Cut apart one set of stamped leaves and attach as shown.  Then attach layers inside the card making sure they don't show beyond the flap when it's closed.

The center flap has the smaller vanilla layer attached with the smaller flower and the two single leaves attached to the center of the layer.

Now for the front layer.  Attach the two layers of die-cuts together.  Attach the sentiment strip to the Mossy Meadow layer.  Position flower, leaves and sentiment on this layer.  Attach one flower flat tucking one set of leaves under this.  Attach 2nd flower with a Dimensional in the center.  Cut apart remaining leaves and tuck in under this flower.  Attach the sentiment with Mini Dimensionals making sure to keep them only on this layer.  None on the overhanging edge.

To attach this layer to the card front, I used Tear & Tape.  There is a strip along the left edge of the layer from top to bottom.  This holds the layer firmly on the small edge of the DSP.

This card uses some antique brass looking dots that blend nicely with the more neutral colors used here.  These are retired, but there are similar current ones.  

I hope these directions make sense to you as you create along with me.  If you have any questions, get in touch and I'll try to clarify any problems you have.  I totally love how this card evolved and the finished look.  Give it a try.  There are so many lovely DSP prints that it's a shame you can only see one side of them.  I like to find ways to get the full effect of the pretty prints.  If you make this with other prints, I'd love to hear what you've created!  Please share.

Since it's February now, that means it's also time to redeem any of those Bonus Days rewards you earned.  Don't forget, redemption is only in February.  That's it, so don't miss out!!

Thanks for stopping by again to see what's been going on here.  I've been having fun holed up in my stamp room trying to ignore all the cold, snowy-icy-rainy weather we've been having.  I think I need to come up for air pretty soon!  Where's that sunshine?

Happy stamping and creating,

Sharon