Family Fun

Yesterday I got together with my Mom & SIL & we made some cards.  We decided to make the "special" cards. from the "A Touch of Shimmer" Luxury card kit from Hunkydory.  While the "special" cards are nearly always beautiful, I find myself avoiding them because: 1) if made as described, you don't get an "extra" cards out of the kit, and 2) I don't like to repeat myself!  I prefer to creatively use the products to design my own.  However, it was a LOT of fun to do them as a group!  

There are usually 4 of the same type of special cards in a kit - and this kit had two different ones - which meant one of each for the three of us and all of us got a choice as to which one we worked on.  (I'll probably make the "unpicked" one later.)  

This first card (top of post) was extra fun because we all did the decorations differently.  The only thing specified in the instructions was the structure itself - and it's a fun structure.  I wish I had pictures of all 3 of the cards, but I just have the pics of my own.  It is made like a full step card - with acetate holding it together.  Very fun!  

I decided to do some decorating on the back as well:

This first set of materials made a 5 1/2" square card.  The main card base consisted of a piece of card stock approximately 5 1/2" wide by 9" long - scored at 1", 2", 3 1/2", 5", 7", AND a piece of acetate that is 5 1/2" x 11" - scored at 5 1/2".  There was also 3 more card stock pieces: a piece 5 1/2" x 2" & scored at 1" to glue over the acetate at the top, a piece 5 1/2" x 2" to cover the adhesive in the back, and 5 1/2" x 1" to cover the adhesive in the front.  Put it together this way:

1. Accordion fold the card stock & use bone folder to crease the folds well.  
2. Fold the acetate in half and crease the fold line with the bone folder.  THEN glue the ends of the acetate to the front and back of the steps.
3. Fold the remaining scored piece and crease well - then glue in place at the top of your card.
4. Glue the remaining pieces over the lower front & back of the card - the larger one goes on the back.
5. Decorate as you wish.

Here's the 2nd card we made - theirs were different colors & different focals, but all basically the same.  This is an easel card, but it is made quite differently with the top and bottom of the card in 2 separate pieces connected by a narrow strip of card stock!

This structure doesn't leave as much room for writing your message, but DOES open you up to a WIDE variety of shapes & designs.  Here's how this one is made:

The top and bottom layer of the card are both about 5" square.  The connector piece is about 2" by 3" long & scored at 1/2" on each end (score at 1/2" and 2 1/2").  

1. Decorate card front.
2. Prepare greeting or embellishment for inside of card to hold easel card open (a rectangular piece works well).
3. On the connector piece, fold score lines as mountain folds & crease well.  
4. Put adhesive on front of connector piece - ONLY on each 1/2" section at the end.
5. With right sides together, carefully line up one end of connector piece along inside edge of decorative border (folded side toward inside of the card), and adhere well.
6. Lay strip flat on the bottom piece but with remaining adhesived end folded back (so it can adhere to the card top).  Line up top and bottom pieces carefully and then press well so adhesive edge adheres to the card top with both top and bottom lined up one on top of the other.
7. Stand up as an easel card to determine where you want your inside greeting or embellishment & put in place with foam tape so your easel will stand on its own.