Fabulous folds - A Never ending card story...

I have had this idea on my to do list for a long time.

Our Stampin' Up Impressions magazine featured this fabulous folding card last month.

And Crafters Anonymous have a lift the flap challenge, this fortnight too.

 (I think this qualifies as a lift the flap kind of card).

So finally, I created my own Never Ending Card.

This is the outside of the card. I kept the colours simple to start with Pear Pizzazz and Marina Mist on whisper white, using the "Fox and Friends" and "Party this way" stamp sets throughout all the layers of the card for continuity (to make it seem never ending).

To begin you open the centre of the card and fold the pieces backwards.
I've taken a photo to try and show you how it opens up in the middle and reveals the next layer of card.
You could add your sentiment to this layer, or the last layer, or both.

I've introduced Peach parfait, Melon Mambo and Poppy Parade to mix up the colours and tell the story of the animals coming to the party. These would make great invitations don't you think?

 Opening the next layer reveals more of the animals heading to the birthday party.
Perhaps, you could add some story lines and make it like a never ending book....
...and then Mr Turtle said  to Mr Lion "are you going to the birthday party too"? (or perhaps not).

 I think this is the third layer ... three giraffes heading to the party.

 Which brings us to layer four... Mmmm, next version I must remember to add more white space.
Or perhaps a final flap for writing your message on.
Its not too late, I can add a punched out shape, which lifts up on one of those balloons.
Wouldn't it be cute if the balloons lifted up to reveal a written messages underneath?

Here's a top shot to show you that by opening the inside of the final layer, we have returned to the front of the card again. 

By opening the middle you start the never ending card story all over again.
Kids especially love this kind of card as it just keeps opening up in the centre and goes 'round and 'round, until you are finished playing with it. Which may be never...
Enjoy!!!

Fox and Friends male card

 Its another Happy Birthday card today... using Fox and Friends.
This time the male version. Blue whales, Green turtles and purple cheeky monkeys.
A Fox and a wise old owl in Concord crush. Boys cards are so much fun. I guess to make it really masculine I could have roughed it up a bit, added some hardware and torn edges.

 Instead to lift the bar, make it a little more exciting I added a cheeky monkey to the inside on a spiral that springs out a bit when you open the card and a flag waving Happy birthday!

Card Recipe:

Stamps: Fox and Friends, Curly cute, Heard from the heart,

Well scripted ($27.95 clear mount - Summer mini),

Cardstock: whisper white and Tempting Turquoise

Ink: Tempting Turquoise, concord Crush, Rich Razzleberry, Pear Pizzazz.

Tools: Wide oval punch, silver brad, vellum, Paper snips.

Fox and friends Birthday

It is the time of year for children's Birthday cards in this house. Many of our friends children have summer time birthdays so I chose some bright and summery colours and set to work making a series of cards.

Its often tricky finding stampsets for children that will suit babies and older ones and can be used for both boys and girls so I just had to have this set. A wise owl, a cheeky monkey, turtle, giraffe, a whale, a lion and a very cute Fox.

My idea sprang from the Idea Book and catalogue on page 64. The animals being stamped randomly as background paper. Then I had a go at less random stamping because that suits some corner of my organised mind.

On the front of these cards I have used the Happy Birthday stamp from Perfect punches.

The edging is punched with my newest pinking hearts punch (only available in the summer mini until 31 March).

Card Recipe:
Stampsets: Fox and Friends (7 stamps $23.95 clear mount, $30.95 wood mount)
Perfect Punches (6 stamps $32.95 clear mount, $40.95 wood mounted)
Cardstock: Melon Mambo,whisper white, Pumpkin pie.
Ink: Melon Mambo, Pumpkin Pie, Pear Pizzaz, Rich Razzleberry, Tempting Turquoise, Marina Mist.
Tools: Pinking Hearts border punch $30.95, wide oval punch $30.95, Dimensional adhesives.

Fox and Friends ... mail box swap

Ahh, I do love when the post man brings me a card .... especially one that is unexpected.
As you know at Convention Demonstrator's swap cards and contact details which is really nice, so that you can send a card when you get home.

This is the swap that I received from the talented and lovely Denise MacCabe, last week.

The idea of swaps is to share our ideas, techniques, styles, uses of stampsets and punches with other demos who in turn share with their customers and to CASE (copy and share everything) for new creative ideas.

This was the card I made, inspired by Denise's card, using a different stampset "Share a cup".

And then I was inspired to make another card using the scallop circle punches and cups in different colours.

I dont know if you can see but I put crystal effects on the middle cup to make it shiny.

Materials used:

Stampset: share a cup

Punches: 1 3/8" circle, scallop circle.

Big shot machine, embossing folder.

Cardstock: Whisper white, basic black, Pink passion, Tempting turquoise.

Markers and Stazon black ink.

Materials Used:

Stamps: Share a cup, Teeny tiny sentiments.

Ink: kiwi kiss, pumpkin pie, black stazon.

Ribbon: Pumpkin pie grosgrain.

Cardstock: Whsper white, Basic black, Old olive, Pumpkin pie.

Punches: oval scallop punch, large oval, circle scallop and 1 3/8" circle.

Big shot and Perfect Polka dot embossing folder.