60th Birthday Blog Hop #5 - Fancy Folds

 Wow!  It feels like forever since I've written a post to this blog.  Why have I suddenly come back to post a card, you ask.  Well, a friend from the other, lower half of this world is having her 60th Birthday this year and you know, of course, that's a big deal.  Bronwyn Eastley, hailing from the part of the world from which the Tasmanian Devil originates is the friend to whom I'm referring.  I will also admit that the fact of this being the "Fancy Fold" portion of this Birthday Hop played a part in my participating.   So check out the  60th Birthday Blog Hop #5 - Fancy Folds after enjoying my card.

Isn't this fold gorgeous?  It's sort of a drop front gate-fold which Bronwyn designed.  You have to check out her amazing special fold designs here.  She was kind enough to allow me to use this template and I had just the stamps to use for it.    

This set is called The Riverbank by the Craft Consortium.  I immediately thought of making a grotto using the images and, luckily, had the perfect (long-retired)  Designer Series paper to make that grotto a reality.

This is a close-up of the centre swan and  its surroundings.  I used my Caran d'Ache Aquarelle pencils and Derwent water brush to colour the images.   For the swan's eyes, I used black Liquid Pearls and then scattered some yellow and blue/green pearls throughout the card.  That drop front on which I've placed the swan and blooming water lilies folds up against the centre panel.

The card folds beautifully to fit into a standard envelope but refuses to stand there, folded up so that I could take a photo.  Not to be beaten by a caard, I resorted to using some of my old fancy paper clips and thus managed this straight-on photo of the fully-closed card.  Even closed it's pretty, isn't it, with those sparkly dragonflies hovering along the centre line?  I used some glitter glue over the water-coloured wings to give them that wonderful irridescent effect they have in real life.

I hope you've enjoyed this special fold.  There are many more in this fun blog-hop.  Just follow along and check out the other "hoppers" listed below.

Blog Hop Participants –

Bronwyn Eastley – (that’s me) https://addinktivedesigns.com/2022/08/03/60th-birthday-blog-hop-5-fancy-folds/

Tina Gillespie – https://scissorspapercard.blogspot.com/2022/08/brons-birthday-blog-hop-august.html

Jan Clothier – https://www.thinkingstamping.co.nz/2022/08/bronsbash5.html

Lou Kitzelman – https://withabowontopbylou.blogspot.com/2022/08/brons-birthday-blog-hop-and-colour-inkspiration-126-fancy-folds.html

Julia Quinn – https://handmadebyjuliaquinn.blogspot.com/2022/08/brons-60th-birthday-hop-with-fancy-folds.html

Nikki Spencer – https://nikkispencer-mysandbox.blogspot.com/2022/08/brons-60th-birthday-blog-hop-5fancy.html

Catherine Proctor – https://whatcathymade.com.au/?p=9999

Andrea Sargent – https://valleyinspiration.blogspot.com/2022/08/brons-birthday-blog-hop-5.html

Kathryn Mangelsdorf – https://klm55.blogspot.com/2022/08/brons-birthday-blog-hop-5-fancy-folds.html

Chantell Randall – https://inkeverywhere.wordpress.com/?p=5005

Leonie Stuart – https://www.stampinginspirationbyleonie.com/2022/08/brons-bday-blog-and-insta-hop-5-fancy.html

Vicki Boucher – https://vickiboucher.blogspot.com/2022/08/brons-bday-blog-hop-fancy-fold.html

Sharni Haines – https://www.sharnihaines.com/post/bron-s-b-day-blog-and-insta-hop-5-fancy-folds-august-2022

Vy Tran – https://www.craftingdailydose.com/post/brons-birthday-blog

WWC335 - Heidi's Challenge: "Anything Goes " Celebrating the End!

I can't believe I've made my last card for our wonderful Watercooler Wednesday Challenge.  It feels like a lifetime since our first post on June 1st, 2014.  It's been a wonderful "ride" and the experience has been fabulous.  I'm proud to have been part of the journey and to have "met" so many new people along the way.

Of course my last card has to be a jaw-dropping, ridiculously involved fancy fold.  Going out with a "bang" is part of my DNA.  This particular fold is the brainchild of the very talented Sam of "Mixed Up Craft".  Called the "Double Accordion Display Card", it takes a lot of materials and patience but it is so very worth the time.  Check it out for yourselves at her post (directions, templates and a handy UTube video are all included).

It's a big card!  Pushed absolutely flat, it measures an impressive 20" (nearly 51 cm) long and 6" (15.25 cm) tall.  It needs a belly-band to hold it closed.  Yes, it takes a lot of product.  I made it for my Grandson's 15th Birthday on February 16th (today) and tried to follow the Dungeons & Dragons theme that he loves.  

Since I used to be a Stampin' Up! Demo, I have a lot of the Company's patterned paper left over and, truly, it's high time that I begin to use it up or somehow get rid of it.  (I feel like a hoarder at times.)  Thankfully the Magical Day Suite has a lot of the characters I wanted for the card and so I fussy cut or die-cut several dragons, wizards, apprentices and castles to add to some of the many squares in this card.  I used a matte of the Red Foil first and then added the images or patterned paper.  Except for the images, I kept the colours to Basic Black, Basic Grey, and red.

As you can see, both of the accordion ends of the card have an assortment of these images.

For the centre panel, I used a matte of the Red Foil and then the "magical" black and white patterned paper.  Then I added a piece of Basic Grey cardstock, embossed with a brick pattern.  My dragon image is by The Stamp Barn.  I heat embossed it in black on Red Foil and then fussy cut it out.  For the claws, horns and teeth, I added a layer of Nuvo White and for the eye, I used a drop of a glittery green Stickles.  I love the way it turned out, don't you?  Incredibly, it looks even better in person.  I adhered a die-cut one and five, staggering the numbers, and then adhered the dragon so that it appears to be on top of the numbers.

The back of the folded up card, held together with the belly-band.  I added a sentiment panel here, using a matte of Basic Grey and then the white cardstock upon which I stamped the birthday wishes.  I'll be adding his name and our own greeting, of course.

Finally, the finished, folded card with its belly band.   I love the front with its embossed brick and the classic colours of the rest of the card.  I found an image of the Dungeons and Dragons which he loves and printed it on Epson Glossy Photo paper.  After cutting it out with a fancy-stitch rectangular die, I mounted the image panel on a piece of Red Foil. It is the finishing touch to an extremely demanding creation.  I love it and hope you do, too. 

Have fun checking out our Watercooler Wednesday Challenge and I hope you'll link your creation before the deadline on Monday, February 28th, 2022.

I've also entered my card at the following challenges:

 Unicorn Challenge Blog #97 - Let's See Red

 AAA Birthday Card Challenges #34 - Patterns

Crafting Happiness Challenges #120 - Anything Goes

A Place to Start Challenge #202202 - Anything Goes

WWC334 - Helen's Challenge: All About Occasions

I'm so happy this is an All About Occasions challenge!  Perfect for the Valentine's Day card I've created using one of the adorable House Mouse images created by Ellen Jareckie in 2019.  I decided to stamp the image and then cut it out with one of my heart dies.  Don't they look adorable?

This is an oversized card, measuring 6 1/2" by 5".  The size allowed me to frame the heart with a matte of Melon Mambo and then mount it on the lovely printed vellum background.  The matte of Mossy Meadow cardstock compliments the grasses in the image as well as helps the white printed leaves to show up nicely on the vellum.

Because I wanted the card to be really special, I dipped the edge of the watercoloured heart into silver embossing powder and heat embossed the perimeter.  I did the same thing with the printed vellum.  In real life that silver simply shines and looks  wonderful, especially against the Melon Mambo and the Mossy Meadow.  The sentiment is simple:  we just fit.  I love it and hope you do, too.

Have fun checking out our Watercooler Wednesday Challenge and I hope you'll link your creation before the deadline on Monday, February 14th, 2022.

I've also entered my card at the following challenges:

Retro Rubber Challenge 175 - Love Love Love!

House-Mouse & Friends Monday Challenge #358  - Anything Goes  

Crafting Happiness Challenges #120 - Anything Goes

Dream Valley Challenge #262 - Love

WWC333 - Dawn's Challenge: All About Occasions

Yay!  I received the "Rising Star Badge" from "A Place to Start Challenges" for this card. 

We've had a real dump of snow lately and so this wonderful stamp of Penny Black's seemed like the perfect one to use for my card.  I love the way the coloured sky leaves patterns of colour on the snowy landscape and so tried to copy that "magic" here.

For my base I chose Very Vanilla.  There are hints of a vanilla/yellow in the card and so I felt a white base would be too stark in contrast.  My matte is Gorgeous Grape and it reflects the  purples on the snow and in the background perfectly, doesn't it?

You can't really see it well in the photos, but I've added white enamel accents to the branches of the tree and along some of the drifts.  I've also use some Wink of Stella on the snow and sky to give it a bit of sparkle.  It's quite lovely in person. 

Have fun checking out our Watercooler Wednesday Challenge and I hope you'll link your creation before the deadline on Monday, January 31st, 2022.

I've also entered my card at the following challenges:

A Place to Start Challenge #012022 - Anything Goes  

Make My Monday #166 - Winter Wherever You Are

Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Anything Goes

WWC332 - Tristan's Challenge: All Things Feminine

Another year, another challenge.  Let's all hope for a happy, healthy 2022.  I think, after the ups and downs of the last two years, we all deserve a break, don't you?

For this challenge I chose to combine some old designer paper featuring a realistic photographic scene with a beautifully animated cow image from an Art Impressions set I just got called Dairy Christmas.  If you're a fan of AI, you'll know how much fun their wonderful images can be.

This is an oversized card, measuring 5" x 6 1/2".  I simply had to keep as much of the background as possible because it's gorgeous and, of course, the image of the leaping cow is not exactly small.  But they work together, don't they?  I just love the exuberance of her body position and the joyous look on her face.  I coloured her using my Derwent watercolours and added some silver to the bells around her waist.  I also added some silver shimmer to the snowflakes which are far more visible in person than in the photo.   For a bit of realism, I also added the shaded-in hoof-prints behind her with my watercolours.

My base for the card is the heavyweight Whisper White and then I've used a matte of Pacific Point under the lovely background designer paper.   After stamping the image, I carefully fussy-cut her so that she'd appear to be jumping out of the background.  I think it works, especially with that sentiment I found, don't you agree?

Have fun checking out our Watercooler Wednesday Challenge and I hope you'll link your creation before the deadline on Monday, January 17th, 2022.

I've also entered my card at the following challenges:

Simon Says Monday Challenge - Something New

Crafting Happiness Challenges January #119 - Always Anything Goes

Dare 2 B Artzy January Challenge - Winter Fun

WWC331 - Marsha's Special 3-Week "Anything Goes" Challenge

It's that time of the year!  Christmas is looming every closer (and don't ask if I've managed to get all the gifts I planned on).  To give ourselves a bit of peace of mind, we're having a special 3-week challenge.  I have to admit to being very, very happy about that.

My card is a special swing fold.  The design really worked well to showcase two different stamp sets, one by Anita Jeram of the Colorado Craft Company and the other by the Ciao Bella Papercrafting company.  I think the images work together beautifully, don't you?

I used a piece of leftover patterned paper which retired some years back.  It makes a statement and yet doesn't take over from the images.   You can see in the close-up why they call it a swing fold since, as the card opens, the inner image swings away from the outer images and frame.  It results in a wonderful 3-D effect. 

After watercolouring the images, I added some Dazzling Details to the snow, adding texture and a whole lot of dazzle (the don't call it Dazzling Details for nothing!)   I decided to heat emboss the sentiment in copper since that is the metallic highlighted on the patterned paper.  I love the result, don't you?

The great thing about this card is that it can easily stand on its own, creating a terrific little winter scene.

Have fun checking out our Watercooler Wednesday Challenge and I hope you'll link your creation before the deadline on Monday, January 3rd, 2022.

I've also entered my card at the following challenges:

Lemon Shortbread Challenge #160 - Anything Goes

The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge #106 - Anything Christmas Goes

Dream Valley Challenges #260 - Christmas

Simon Says Monday Challenge - Cold as Ice

WWC330 - Heidi's Challenge: All About Occasions

Photographing glitter is a royal pain!  My eyes pick up all the  glittery areas and the nuances of colour but neither my camera(s) nor phone can manage the same.  Clearly we have a way to go in attempting to match the human eye.

Why am I so hung up on glitter, you ask.  Well this card is actually all about glitter.  After all, the sentiment says the snow is sparkling like a million suns and my attempt here is to show exactly that. 

With the bright sunshine today and angled slightly, the card does show some of the sparkle.  I decided to have the bird appear to be standing on a snowball using the puffy white snow pen and then covering it with a combination of Shimmery Crystal Effects and a dab of Dazzling Details.  After stamping the sled, sentiment and bird with the StudioLight images, I turned to the Stampin' Up! images for the branches and bunny (stamped, coloured and fussy-cut before adhering it with foam Dimensionals).  The rest is freehand watercolour for my sunrise, snowy fields and shadows.

I plopped the card into one of my plants where the sun hit it directly, hoping to get more of the shine.

But I think there is more shine without the direct rays hitting the card, don't you?  This is an oversized card with a finished size of 6 1/4 inches by 5 inches.  I wanted the additional room to show off the pretty snowflake patterned paper.

Have fun checking out our Watercooler Wednesday Challenge and I hope you'll link your creation before the deadline on Monday, December 13th, 2021.

I've also entered my card at the following challenges:

Lemon Shortbread Challenge #159 - Anything Goes

Try It On Tuesday - Winter Wonderland

Simon Says Monday Challenge - Sparkle Mode

Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge (CHNC) - Anything Christmas

WWC329 - Cathy's Challenge: All Things Masculine

Do you know what is the problem with having a lot of supplies?  Making a choice!  I must have changed my mind a half dozen times before finally deciding to make a humorous masculine card using one of Bonnie Krebs' delightful Sloth images.  Who doesn't love sloths?

I chose to make the card in a slimline format since I wanted lots of room under the sloth which was hanging from a branch as they customarily do.  The base is heavy Whisper White and then I've added a layer of Old Olive to bring out the colours of those little leaves.  I used my Derwent watercolour pencils and an Aqua Painter to colour the image and love the results.  To add some festive sparkle, I heat embossed a series of gold sparkles around the image.  It's a birthday card, after all.

I simply love the sweet expression on the sloth's face.  Don't ask how that party hat is managing to stay on his head.  That was Bonnie Krebs' idea.  I think the card would work beautifully for a guy of any age, don't you? 

Have fun checking out our Watercooler Wednesday Challenge and I hope you'll link your creation before the deadline on Monday, November 29th, 2021.

I've also entered my card at the following challenges:

Use Your Stuff Challenge #435 - Tic Tac Toe (blue, masculine, simple stamping)

Crafty Sentiments Designs - Anything Goes

Lemon Shortbread Challenge #158 - Anything Goes

WWC328 - Tristan's Challenge: All About Occasions

This is such a lovely stamp set called Wonderful Autumn by StudioLight.  I love the background paper, as well, also created by StudioLight.  It's easy to be inspired when everything works so well together.

For some reason the colours are not photographing true.  I find that singularly annoying.  But after spending altogether too much time in Photoshop, I threw in the towel and gave up any chance of actually showing the true colours of the card which stands to the right of me at the moment, heckling the colours on my screen.  I feel I have to apologize to the card for misrepresentation.              

The sentiment appealed to me especially at this time since we are having to let go of our sweet and loving Khali Kho.  Quite honestly, it doesn't feel beautiful at all having to do that, but Chronic Kidney Disease is stealing her away at a young 13 years.  She has been a cat in a million, so completely gregarious and enthusiastic about life.

So our journey began when I found her, nearly dead from starvation with a bleeding gash in her neck. A few years later she suddenly suffered tooth resorption and had to have all but two teeth extracted. Through it all, she's stayed happy and outgoing, loving every person she's met. As if that wasn't enough, now she's dying with failing kidneys.  The world isn't going to be the same without her.

UPDATE:  This morning sweet Khali crossed the Rainbow Bridge.

April 4th, 2008 - November 3rd, 2021

Have fun checking out our Watercooler Wednesday Challenge and I hope you'll link your creation before the deadline on Monday, November 15th, 2021.

I've also entered my card at the following challenges:

Lemon Shhortbread Challenge #157 - Anything Goes

Crafty Sentiments Challenge - Anything Goes

Dare 2 B Artzy October Challenge - Fall

WWC327 - Dawn's Challenge: All Things Feminine

So Hallowe'en is coming up and it's time for a Feminine card.  Well, feminine isn't always what you think it might be.

That looks remarkably like a Hallowe'en card, doesn't it?  The key here is the bit of Shakespearean witches' chant.  Sounds a lot like making a brew, right?  Well, my daughter, who adores Shakespeare and requires a daily strong cup of brew, also loves Hallowe'en.  This is the perfect card for her.

I've taken bits and pieces of different Stampin' Up! sets for this card as well as a die-cut moon which has wandered away from its set and featured them all on this awesome Studio Light "Wonderful Autumn" patterned paper.  It all fits together wonderfully, doesn't it?

Of course I wanted something special for inside as well.  After hunting through all my coffee-themed stamp sets (and I do have quite a number), I realized I would have to create my own.  Photoshop to the rescue.  And so the inside pulls it all together.  I am so stoked!  How many days is it until Hallowe'en again?

Have fun checking out our Watercooler Wednesday Challenge and I hope you'll link your creation before the deadline on Monday, November 1st, 2021.

I've also entered my card at the following challenges:

Classic Design Challenge Blog Challenge #10 October

Let's Craft and Create Challenge #176 - Anything Goes + Things With Wings

WWC326 - Helen's Challenge: All About Occasions

It's October and Fall colours are everywhere!  We're also coming up to celebrating Thanksgiving here in Canada.  What an excellent time to create a Thankful card!

Everything in this card is retired Stampin' Up! product.   Well, except for the watercolour inks.  Those are all from my set of Derwent Watercolour pencils.  Instead of regular cardstock, I created the card itself using a fun Fall Designer paper.  Both sides are absolutely perfect, aren't they?

This is a special fold which opens in the centre and shows off both sides of that wonderful patterned paper.  On the left front, I attached a stitched oval stamped with a combination of images from the Country Home and Pretty Kitty stamp sets.  On the right front, I attached a banner with the sentiment.  When closed, the shapes overlap and "lock" the card in place.

Once opened, the card stands beautifully, displaying the sweet sentiment from the Painted Harvest stamp set.  I think it works perfectly.  I don't give out Thanksgiving cards but a card to thank someone will definitely come in handy and be used.  Don't you just love the finished card?

Have fun checking out our Watercooler Wednesday Challenge and I hope you'll link your creation before the deadline on Monday, October 18th, 2021.

I've also entered my card at the following challenges:

International Art & Soul Challenge:  #118 Furry Friends

Stamping Sensations: October - Animals, Birds & Bugs

WWC325 - Heidi's Challenge: All Things Masculine

 Oh my!  It's a masculine challenge and I'm the host!  Do I ever have a cool card for you to enjoy! 

If you know me, then you know I love cats.  Cats of all kinds.  And even though Tim Holtz stretches his images  of cats to the limits, I love most of them.  They really do reflect what cats appear to be saying in their inimitable way.

I had fun with this card.  I cut out the image with a cute squarish stitched die, leaving little room around it so that the background white cardstock could get some love.  I decided to just use my embossing folder across two corner of the paper.  Then I splattered some Broken China Distress Oxide ink across the paper.  Once that had dried, I used my Silver UniBall pen to fill in the embossed stars.  A quick stamp of the sentiment in black ink, a Smoky Slate matte and the image mounted using foam adhesive strips, and the card was done.  Well, sort of.  After I added some black metallic thread and a black sequin star, it was definitely done.

But I couldn't just leave the inside blank.  It screamed for another one of the Tim Holtz cats and I knew precisely which one I would be using.   It was perfect with the Tim Holtz sentiment, don't you agree?  I added some Broken China Distress Oxide ink to the perimeter and now, truly, the card was done.

Have fun checking out our Watercooler Wednesday Challenge and I hope you'll link your creation before the deadline on Monday, October 4th, 2021.

I've also entered my card at the following challenges:

Crafting Happiness Challenges:  Ch#114

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends Challenge: C# 166

WWC324 - Kath's Challenge: All About Occasions

 Sometimes you just look at an image and know you have to get it.  I'm sure it's happened to others than just myself.  Well, this odd looking little pooch, having what looks like one too many cups of coffee, appealed to my sense of whimsy.  

After stamping the images on a piece of watercolour paper, I proceeded to choose the colours and then looked for my Aqua Painter.  I could not find it to save my life.  I suspect that my tortie, Khali Kho decided it made a very satisfactory noise when being winged across the floor and wound up leaving it under something when she got bored.  I'll find it someday but not this day.  I own seven Aqua Painters in all but this was my favourite.  I had to "limp along" using another one to finish the card.  *sigh*

I used a matte of Cajun Craze cardstock and a base of the Heavy Whisper White.  To give the card a bit of birthday sparkle, I added some copper sequins and, of course, added a touch of silver ink to the collar around the pup's neck.

Have fun checking out our Watercooler Wednesday Challenge and I hope you'll link your creation before the deadline on Monday, September 20th, 2021.

I've also entered my card at the following challenges:

Lemon Shortbread Challenge #154 - Anything Goes

Simon Monday Challenge Blog - Simon Says Stamp It