Welcome back

This week I have decided to do something different with the Laughing Lola papers from CTMH.  This is quite a change from my usual pastels and pinks and I have always wanted a bugs and butterfly stamp set and this set is really cute and whimsical.  Unfortunately, this set is on the retiring list and will no longer be available at the end of the month so you will need to be in quick.

I have made up this design based on some books that I got out of the library many years ago.  I wanted to create the effect of a garden with butterflies and bees using a pop up technique and the Laughing Lola papers were a good match as they have lovely flowers and flourishes.

Normally I make up a card as I go along, but this time I played around with plain paper first to get my measurements correct and the right effect with the pop up.  Here is my prototype:

As you can see I have change the sentiment but I still have the general effect that I wanted.

For the base card I have used a piece of 12 x 12 Indian Corn Blue cardstock and cut it to make a 5 1/2″ x 4 1/4″ card.  This was distressed with Desert Sand ink.  For the front of the card I have then cut a piece of Colonial White cardstock 4″ x 5 1/4″ and distressed it with Desert Sand ink.  I then cut out a piece of Laughing Lola patterned paper to try and get the flower and a flourish to allow me to add a bee on it 3 3/4″ x 5″.  This was also distressed with Desert Sand ink.

These were put together.  I then added a clear flower onto centre of the flower and then stamped the bee image onto the Laughing Lola Gold cardstock and then fussy cut out the bee and using foam tape adhered it to the flower.  The sentiment is from Card Chatter – Birthday Wishes and was stamped onto Colonial White Cardstock.  After distressing with Desert Sand ink I then placed it on the card front and finished it with some black sparkle from the Black and Grey Sparkles assortment.

For the inside I have cut a piece of Colonial White cardstock 5 1/4″ x 8 “.  I had a strip of Laughing Lola paper to break the creamy white expanse and then cut it to fit the length of the Colonial White cardstock.   I scored the card in the middle and then folded it with the patterned paper in the inside. On the outside I measured in from the edge and cut three lines on each end of the card as indicated on the photo below.  You can vary the length of these cuts to suit your project.  I found that the longer cuts were better on the inside rather than the outside.

I then used my trimmer to score the fold lines to help make it easier to fold the creases.

Here is the cards with the cuts and creases done ready to crease.

Here I have taken several angles to show how I have folded this card.

I then stamped several images using Black ink on various coloured cardstock (see list below in the materils used) and then fussy cut them out ready to embellish the card.

For the grass edging I have used the paper piecing technique again to add a little colour to the mushrooms and toadstools and used my alcohol markers to colour in the flowers.   The pieces were distressed with Desert Sand ink to add some dimension to the image and then glued to the base image.  I then glued the caterpillar on top of the leaves and toadstools.

For the butterflies to stand up and away from the grass I have cut a couple of small strips and adhered them to the butterflies.  These were distressed with Desert Sand ink. (A good alternative to use would be acetate but I didn’t have any).

I then adhered these strips to the narrow pop ups on the outside.

The grass and caterpillar image was then adhered to the front of the larger fold.  I had to use the long strips to stop the butterflies from being squashed when the card is folded.

I have popped a couple of little ladybirds that I have stamped with Black ink on Ruby cardstock on to finish the garden effect and also to hide the long strip on the left.

To complete the inner card I cut out two pieces of Colonial White Cardstock – one  at 3 1/2″ x 1 2/8 ” and stamped the butterfly sentiment on it and the other one at 3 1/2″ x 2 1/2″ and stamped the Bugs and Hugs sentiment on it.  Both pieces of card were distressed and adhered to the inner card.  I have finished off by adding some black sparkles on the butterfly sentiment.

Here is the finished inner again.

And here are some close up of the embellishments.

Materials used are all CTMH:

Cardstock – Colonial White, Ruby, Laughing Lola Gold, Laughing Lola Purple, Olive, Desert Sand, Gypsy, Indian Corn Blue (The Laughing Lola Gold and Lauging Lola Purple cardstock is available only with the WOTG sets which is also retiring, but the paper pack will still be available for this Ideas Book.

Laughing Lola paper pack

Ink – Black, Desert Sand

Alcohol Markers – Cotton Candy, Buttercup

Stamp Set – Bugs and Hugs (D1535), Card Chatter – Birthday (D1475) – both are on the retiring list

Clear flower

Sparkles – Black and Grey assortment.

I can’t believe how quickly I have learnt the names of all the colours from the CTMH range.  They are beautiful and coordinate so well.

I have just had a sneak peak at the new Ideas Book due to come out next week and it looks really exciting.  I can’t wait to get my hands on the new embossing folders and the papers are soooo beautiful.  Watch this space…

I hope that everyone has a good week and are keeping warm or cool and safe wherever you are in the world.

Happy Crafting

Patricia