Wednesday, September 2, 2009

You're invited to the Cuttlebug Challenge Birthday Palooza! ;o)



The whole month of September is the Cuttlebug Challenge Birthday Palooza! Each member of the design team is picking a different party theme for the month's challenges. Hopefully, You fab readers & challenge participants will play along too! There are all kinds of great prizes and exciting things planned. You can read all about it here.



The theme I chose for the month is a Stamping Party (I'm plannin' a surprise for my cousin Shealagh, since happily all of the gals in my family like to craft.) And of course the focus of all the stampin' fun will be on Cuttlebugging. :-D

Pocket Card Invitation made from a
Provo Craft Embossing Folder:

For a strange little twist, the pocket invitation to Shea-Shea's stamping birthday party is a wrapped Cuttlebug embossing folder. (It's designed to be a gift and to be taken apart by the recipients--who can use the embossing folder & use the leaves as card candy.)



Most of the embossing folders will fit in a standard acrylic card box with room for any information (a map?) or treats you'd like to add--the acrylic box also protects the folder invitation (so that you can mail it in a bubble mailer if you like.)



1...Cuttlebug Challenge Blog: Be Inspired Wednesday challenge (Invites)
2...make a pocket card invitation (from a Cuttlebug embossing folder)
3...embossed damask leaves

-1-
Cuttlebug Challenge Blog
Be Inspired Wednesday #47 (Birthday Invitations)


-2-

...make a pocket card invitation
(from a Cuttlebug embossing folder)



Paper: Graph paper: Cosmo Cricket's Girl Friday Collection (Wednesday.); Core'dinations Whitewash cardstock
Colour: Distress inks (Peeled Paint & Broken China), Tempting Turquoise Craft ink (SU), Glimmer mist (Garden Fairy), White Sakura Souffle pen
Stamps: Leigh Hannan Damask leaves (Paper Gardens Projects)
Tools: Provo Craft Embossing Folder as card base (Swiss Dots); Provo Craft Embossing Folders (Happy Birthday & Floral Fantasy); and a Cuttlebug Machine
Miscellaneous: Tim Holtz ink applicator & foam pad, clear embossing powder & heat gun; Wax paper/non-stick mat; Stampin' Up! Birds & Blooms sizzix dies; Acrylic card box



Step 1}
Cut various pieces to fit one of the older smaller sized Provo Craft embossing folders (of course you could make a card like this with the new larger sized embossing folders; it just won't fit in the standard size acrylic card box.)

This card uses pieces cut to the following sizes:
  • Bottom: 1 strip measuring 4-5/8" wide x 2-1/2" high
  • Sides: 2 strips measuring 1" wide x 5-3/4" high
  • Back: 1 piece measuring the the full folder size: 4-5/8"wide x 5-3/4" high


Step 2}
Add the bottom piece (stuck on the front)

A) Emboss the Bottom strip (1" wide x 5-3/4") of Whitewash in a Cuttlebug folder
B) Sand it & fold in half.
C) Put adhesive on the back of one half & adhere it to the top of the Cuttlebug folder (to hide the text)



Step 3}

A) Emboss & sand the full back panel (4-5/8" wide x 5-3/4" high.)
B) Lay the panel over the back of the folder (with no adhesive on the large full panel at all.) C) Adhere the back of the bottom strip to it.



Step 4} Emboss the two side strips (1" wide x 5-3/4" high.) Sand them & fold them in half.



Step 5}
Adhere the side panels to the front of the folder.



Step 6} Wrap the two side pieces around the back (onto the full back panel.) Then you've made a frame on the front & a pocket on the back.



Step 7} Create the pocket card (with the party information on it) to slide in the pocket. I embossed the text on Core'dinations Whitewash straight out of the printer (just sprinkle clear embossing powder on it while the printer ink is wet & heat with a heat gun.)

-3-

embossed damask leaves



Step 1} Stamp & Emboss Leigh Hannan Damask leaves (an acrylic stamp set I bought at Paper Gardens Projects.) The Graph paper is from Cosmo Cricket's Girl Friday Collection (specifially, Wednesday.)



Step 2} Ink Damask leaves with Distress inks (Peeled Paint & Broken China)



Step 3} Spritz leaves with Glimmer Mist (This is Garden Fairy-a lovely soft green)



Step 4} Add more colour using Tim Holtz's "wrinkle free distressing" technique (add Distress Ink & Glimmer Mist to wax paper & press image on it to pick up colour)



Step 5} Cut the leaves out & shade them with Copic markers to add dimension



Step 6} Add White Sakura Souffle pen details.

and put it all together...

The leaves are attached with temporary adhesive,
(so they can be taken apart.) :-D

Thank You for visitin'!
Hope you have the most beautiful day,

36 comments:

Shantaie said...

Mel,
you always astound me, this project is no exception! The leaves are gorgeous, and I love the concept!!

proud to be on the same team!your cuttlebug challenge blog sister~ Shantaie

liannallama said...

Wow! Your projects are always amazing and delightful! Love every single detail and thanks so much for telling us all your secrets!

csroyal said...

Whoa, Mel! You always take it up a notch! This is such an incredible take on an invitation and a party!! Can I come?

cal8007 said...

Mel, what a neat idea! I'm planning a craft-together too and this would be great for the person who picks the right number!

Thanks for sharing all your wonderful creations - you are amazing as always,

Carmen

Tanis said...

Mel, this is STUNNING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Those leaves are absolutely gorgeous.

Tonniece said...

Totally beautiful in that Mel fashion.

love it

hugs
Tonniece

Anonymous said...

ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS,LOVE LADY

Dawn said...

another winner Mel!! you've given me ideas....tfs my friend! =)

Kim Etherington said...

I LOVE this invitation! It is so gorgeous, elegant, and purdy. ;o)
I hope I get one in the mail one day for a stampin partay at your house. Gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous. Colours are beautiful. As usual, you make me jealous, envious and awe inspired.
Mwah!

CFLanger said...

What a fabulous idea, a gorgeous project, and a great tutorial! You are so awesome to share this with people!

Tricia said...

fantastic as usual! I love it! thanks for the tut!

Unknown said...

Wow, Mel!! Simply stunning...in every way!

(-: Heidi

CreativSpirit said...

Mel, this is another beautiful project which I will definitely try. Instead of an invitation, it could also have a Birthday card inside behind the CB folder. Thanks for the inspiration,

Rob

Anonymous said...

`Stunningly beautiful` Mel..Your invites are a sheer `delight`TFI
Have a great week:)x

Christy Farneth-Kerr said...

Wow !! What a really net project:)

Unknown said...

Good golly Miss Mellie!
This is awesomely beautiful! I would have never thought of something like this! Thanks for the wonderful tutorial also. I will be using it!
Hugs,
True :) from: "True's Gifts From The Heart"

SJDWolf said...

Wow! Amazing invite. Thanks for sharing.

Mari said...

Seriously, Mel, my jaw dropped. And stayed there for quite a while. I even called dh in to have a look (yes, he thought it was pretty cool too).
Gorgeous. Stunning. Creative. In short, something you'd find on Mel Stampz! :)

PinksyDoodles said...

Hi Mel,
I found your blog via a link from Mo's Digital Pencil, I'm glad I visited, your blog is great and I will be back to look in more detail.
Clare x

Anonymous said...

I'm gone for a few days and look at what you've done!!! You've just added 3 projects to my to-do list! HEHE! You are a crazy talented individual!!!!! I wish I could craft with you :)

Thank you for sharing your genius!

Gabriele said...

wooow...
I've been reading your blog for (aprox.) a year now... I love your style, but each and any time I visit your page, you come up with another great and stunning inspiration, tutorial, idea, design...

Thanks a lot for sharing!

Hugs
Gabriele

Unknown said...

Wow, this is so gorgeous! I just happened to find your blog and you do incredible work...thanks for the inspiration!

June Houck said...

Mel, to say you are talented is such an understatement! Your invite is beautiful :)

Ingrid said...

Stunning card, Mel. It is absolutely gorgeous. You did a fab job!

Erum Tasneem said...

this is my FAVORITE MEL! I think it is whimsical and totally totally out of this world.. has such a "fantasy" feel to it! I think u can add this as one of your most-est beautiful cards!

Michelle said...

mel this is gorgeous and amazing and inspiring!

hugs
michelle

Anonymous said...

Mel..
you are so .. creative isn't even the right word! Your ideas span so many genres. I love getting your posts, truly look forward to them. I won't be crafting until October because of school...but when I do..I'll have your blog up and try some.
Thank you SOOOOOO much for all that you share and encourage us to do.
You have such beautiful "art".
hugs,

Unknown said...

really cute card. thank you for sharing.i love it

jessica lynn

PaperTree Designs said...

Hi Chicky

This is just beautiful. You really are the queen of tutorials!
Hugs
Deb
x

Maria Matter said...

wowza, isn't your blog just a treasure trove!
this is a beautiful project....gorgeous leaves! Thanks for sharing!

blessings, Maria

Maya said...

WOW!!
This is so beautiful!!
The colours on the leafes and the whole pocket card!
Thank you for all the inspiration you give me :)
Hugs from Maya.

Nancy at EmbroideryIt.com said...

That invitation is absolutely amazing!!!
Wow!
Nancy

Unknown said...

Your tutorials are always so clear and give me so much inspiration. This is a gorgeous invitation!

Etha said...

oh wow that is some cuttlebugged goodness! Love the colors and all the textures. I will have to come back and read this post again, too much to absorb this morning :)

Allison Rankin said...

Oh my Mel. Heart stopping...nuff said.

Cat said...

Positively gorgeous! Just so elegant!