Birthday One for the Books

 

Hi Crafty Friends,

Today I have a fun gnome themed Arch Accordion card to share with you. This card uses products from Spellbinders March 2024 Club Kits and two of their Arch die sets. I have been wanting to make this style of card for sometime, so am happy that i finally got around to making one.

For the arch shapes I used Spellbinders Essential Arches for the base and inner arches. I used the Colorblock Accent Arches to add the layer the creates the fun pattern around the edges. To join the arches I cut 2 inches panels that measured approx 3 inches in height. I scored at 1 inch and then glued these to the bottom front of the arches that needed to be joined. Adding the tabs to the front means they are hidden when you add your layers on top.

To decorate my panels I used the Glimmer of the month from March 2024 ... Sketched Lines. I used gold glimmer foil to add the lines to the white arches and also to create the red sentiments at the bottom of each arch.

The gnomes are from the Stamp of the month ... Storytime Gnomes. I also used one of the sentiments from this stamp set for the sentiment on the left panel. I used some older Whimsy Stamps Speech Bubbles dies to add the stamped sentiments in, doing a little of creative partial die cutting to make the dies fit the sentiments. The other two sentiments are from an older book themed Mama Elephant stamp set from my stash.

This is a look at the front of the card, when it is closed ready to be placed in an envelope.

January 2025 Karen Burniston Designer Challenge

 

Hi Crafty Friends,

Welcome to our January Karen Burniston Designer Challenge.

Check out Karen Burniston's blog on Wednesday (US Time) when you will be able to see what all the designers created for the challenge this month, plus Karen will have an amazing video tutorial to share with us all.

Our challenge theme this month is ... "THE FIRST 100 DIES" - Make a card using any of our die sets with item numbers between 1001 and 1100.

My first thought when deciding what to create for this challenge was to make a card using the Katherine Label Pop-up, as this would have to be my most used die. But it was for this reason I decided not to use it and looked in another direction.

Instead I decided to pull out my Fancy Label Accordion die set as this would have been one of the very first Karen Burniston dies I purchased back in 2013 when Karen was designing for Sizzix. Of course there are many improvements on the newer dies from the thick steel rule dies of the past. 

I wanted a colourful card, so I selected the four striped colours included in a pattern paper pad I have and used a differed colour for each of the 4 panels.

To decorate my card I used the Ice Cream Sundae Pop-up die set, using the elements that make up the Ice Cream Sundae for the first and third panels of my card.

On the centre panel I added the "You're Sweet" Sentiment, layering it up to give it some dimension.

For something different, I decided to add a square panel at the end of the accordion card. I have done this before but it was a number of years ago. Besides being able to add another sentiment, it gives a place on the back to be able to write a personal greeting to the recipient.

I used the Ovals Crosshatch for the layers of my card and then added the "Happy Birthday" sentiment. This sentiment does now have a layering die which you can purchase separately, but as it didn't fit into the theme "The First 100 dies" I didn't use it. Everything I used on my card today are from the first 100 dies.

The hearts which I added to the last panel are from the Heart Pivot Panels die set.

Here is a look at my card when it is closed ready to be placed in an envelope.

Don't forget to visit Karen Burniston's blog on Wednesday (US Time) when you will be able to see what all the designers created for the challenge this month.

51st Anniversary

 

Hi Crafty Friends,

It was our 51st Anniversary last week, so of course it was the perfect opportunity to play with Karen Burniston's new Heart Add-ons die set that works with the Fancy Label Accordion die set. I am loving how the new dies give a totally new look to this popular and timeless Accordion die set.

On the left side of the card, I used the "Happy Anniversary" die from Word Set 12 - Anniversary die set. I had to cut the "Anniversary" apart so it would fit on the panels.

On the right hand panel I added the "51st" which is from the Numbers die set. I also added a few of the candy hearts from the new Candy Heart Box die set.

Here is a look at my card, when the card is closed. I added two of the hearts included in the Hearts Add-on die set. Normally the image that is seen on the left panel when the card is opened is also seen when it is closed, however using the add-on die sets makes it more naturally to have an images or sentiment on both sides so a different one is seen when the card is closed.

I added a panel to the back of the card, and three more of the candy hearts. This is so I can write a personal message on the back of my card.

Birthday Candles

 

Hi Crafty Friends,

Today I am sharing a sneak peek of one of the new die sets being released by Karen Burniston on Monday 11th December. 

There are seven new dies being released and two of the new dies are Add-on sets that work with the Fancy Label Accordion die set. For my card today I have used the new Birthday Candles Add-ons die set. I love how these add-on die sets give a brand new look to the popular Fancy Accordion die set.

To use the new add-ons die sets you need to make a four page accordion card, so that the add-on is in the centre.  

I used the birthday sentiment from Word Set 2 - Birthday die set to add the sentiment on the far left panel. The presents on the right panel are from the Big Birthday Charms die set.

Here is a look at the card, when the card is closed. I added the birthday cake to this panel which is also from the Big Birthday Charms die set. Normally the image that is seen on the left panel when the card is opened is also seen when it is closed, and you could do that for this card too. But I felt it kept the folds in the correct place for the recipient if I folded it this way and added another image on the back which shows when the card is closed.

April 2023 Karen Burniston Designer Challenge

 Hi Crafty Friends, 

Welcome to our April Karen Burniston Designer Challenge.

Check out Karen Burniston's blog on Wednesday (US Time) when you will be able to see what all the designers created for the challenge this month, plus Karen will have an amazing video tutorial to share with us all.

Our challenge theme this month is ... "BUNNY" - incorporate a bunny into your card of any theme.

With Easter coming up this weekend, of course I went with an Easter theme. I created an Accordion Card using the Landscape Rectangle Accordion Die set. I die cut three pages using the main die in the set to create a three page accordion card. 

I used the largest die from the Short Rectangles - Crosshatch and the main page die from the Landscape Rectangle Accordion die sets to create the pattern paper layers to all the pages. I used two pattern papers, alternating the papers to the pages.

I used the grass die from the Nature Edges die set to add the grass to the two outer pages of my card. 

I used the Spring Animals, Easter Charms and Garden Charms die sets to decorate the card. The "Happy Easter" sentiment is also from the Easter Charms die set. I layered the sentiment onto an oval using the Ovals - Crosshatch die set.

Here is a look at my accordion card when it is closed ready to be placed in an envelope.

Santa Card and Gift Card Holder

 

I know Christmas is over, however I still have a couple more Christmas cards to share with you that I created this year ... I am slowly getting through them all.

I needed a Gift Card Holder to go with a gift card I had purchased for someone, after seeing Fran Sabad's Slider Box Gift Card Holder on Karen Burniston's Slider Box Tutorial Video I decided to create something similar.

As I had already written out all my cards, I had to check what card I had written on for the recipient of the gift card holder. I discovered it was this Santa Accordion Card that I made two years ago. You can see the full details of the accordion card in my blog post here. 

So my next step was to create a Slider Box and decorate it so it matched the accordion card. So I assembled the Slider Box using white cardstock and then decorated it with a blue patterned paper I found in my stash.

Here is a quick video to see my card in action.

To decorate the top of the box I used the decorative rectangle die included in the Slider Box die set. I spattered white paint over the aqua panel and then used the Long Nature Edges die set to die cut the snow border with trees. I again used the decorative rectangle die to die cut this piece so that the edges all had the same design on it.

I then added the Santa & presents using the Santa & Gnome die set.

I again used a Lawn Fawn Stamp set to add the "Ho Ho Ho" to the top of the rectangle.

You can see by the photo above the slider box is partially open and reveals some snowflakes and a gift card,

When you pull out the drawer of the box the snowflakes come flying out and the gift card pops upright. This is because I added a Bam Box using the Bam Box die set to the front of the inside of the drawer and I attached the gift card to that. I think there are so many ways to use the Bam Box dies.

Here is one last look at the gift card holder ... I have stood the outer portion of the Slider Box upright so you can see the scene a little better.

I also added a little tag with Merry Christmas stamped on it, using the labels from the Fancy Labels Accordion Card die set.

Autumn Accordion Cards

 

Hi Crafty Friends,

Today I am sharing a couple of Accordion cards featuring products from Divinity Designs September release. Yes I know I am a month late! Unfortunately the postal services on both sides of the ocean are super slow right now, so it takes longer for my parcels to arrive. 

For my first card I have created an Accordion Card using the Accordion Card with Layers die set and the new Accordion Card Add-Ons die set. I love this addition, it gives the card a completely different look and I am looking forward to playing with it more in the future.

To decorate my card I used the Thanksgiving Gnomes Paper/Die Duo set ... I love the mix of papers and gnomes included in this set. I used the Double Stitched Ovals die set to add the layers to the three panels of my card.

For the sentiment I pulled out the new Happy Fall Stamp/Die Duo set. 

Here is a look at my card when it is closed, ready to be placed in an envelope. I alternated the layering of the patterned papers, so that the zig zag paper was the one seen when the card is closed.

For my second card, I have again created an Accordion Card using the Accordion Card with Layers and Accordion Card Add-Ons die sets.

This time around I used the Slimline Autumn Plaid Paper Pad for all the layers and decorated my card using the Happy Fall Stamp/Die Duo.

I also added a few leaves around the sentiment, which are from the Thanksgiving Gnomes Paper/Die Duo set.

Here is a look at my card when it is closed, ready to be placed in an envelope.

Life's A Picnic Accordion

 

Hi Crafty Friends,

It's challenge time with my friends over on the CCEE Stampers challenge blog. Lois Bak our challenge hostess for the month, finishes off the month with one last challenge.

In the Northern Hemisphere it’s the middle of summer, and July is National Picnic Month. Include something on your card that would be part of a picnic (picnic basket, checkered tablecloth, picnic food, or even ants).

For my card today I decided to make a two page Accordion card using Karen Burniston's Landscape Rectangle Accordion die set. For the layers on the accordion I used the rectangle dies from the Short Rectangles - Crosshatch die sets.

I added the grass using the grass border die included in the Nature Edges die set.

To decorate each panel I used the Picnic Elements and the Sweet Treats Charms (watermelon) die sets.

The "Hi" sentiment is from Waffle Flower Crafts Popping Sentiments and the "Life's A Picnic" sentiment is from Lawn Fawn.

Here is a look at my card when it is closed ready to be placed in an envelope. I added a few more ants on the corner of the front frame.

Don't forget to check out the CCEE Stampers blog (goes live 12 AM EST) to see the rest of the creations the CCEE Stampers created this week. You can also see more details of their creations on their individual blogs:

Anne Harmon

Liz Williams

Lois Bak

Lynn McAuley

Maryann Einam

Kelly McKown-Santi

Berry Sweet

 

Hi Crafty Friends,

It's challenge time with my friends over on the CCEE Stampers challenge blog. Being a brand new month, it's time to introduce our new challenge hostess that is Lynn McAuley.

Country Cooking Month – In the United States, June has been declared country cooking month. I am therefore asking the CCEE Stampers to create cards which feature fabulous bounty from the garden in the form of fruits or vegetables that you love to prepare and serve your family during the hot months of summer.

I recently purchased the Spellbinders Perfect Pie Collection designed by Tina Smith, so as soon as I saw this challenge I knew I had to use some of the dies to create my card for this challenge.

As you can see I created an accordion card using Karen Burniston's new Landscape Rectangle Accordion die set. This die set makes an accordion card which is Mini Slimline sized being 3 1/2 inches x 6 inches.

I used the rectangle dies from the Short Rectangles - Crosshatch die set to create all the layers and white panels at the centre of each page.

For the first panel of my card I used the Serve a Slice and Dish It Up die sets to create the slice of strawberry pie.

All the sentiments on this card are. from the Perfect Pie Sentiments & Fillings stamp set which is also a part of this collection. The tiny strawberries are from the Delicious Decorations die set.

 I created a large strawberry pie for my last page of my accordion card using the dies from the Perfect Pies die sets.

Here is a look at my card when it is closed ready to be placed in an envelope.

Don't forget to check out the CCEE Stampers blog (goes live 12 AM EST) to see the rest of the creations the CCEE Stampers created this week. You can also see more details of their creations on their individual blogs:

Anne Harmon

Liz Williams

Lois Bak

Lynn McAuley

Maryann Einam

Kelly McKown-Santi