Graphic 45 Botanical Tea Songbird Card Folio

Hello, Friends!  It’s time for a brand new challenge over on the Frilly and Funkie Blog.  The theme this go round is “B” Happy, and Cec is our hostess.  I’ve created a Graphic 45 Botanical Tea Card Folio that’s got some fun new twists in the design.  We’ll take a look at that in a moment, but first, let’s see what Cec has to say about this challenge.

Challenge Theme: “B” Happy
Create a shabby chic or vintage project that makes you happy and features birds, bees and/or butterflies. You must use at least one of these things with wings and it must have a place of prominence on your creation but if you wish to use two or more, please feel free to do that.

Botanical Tea Songbird Card Folio

I know I shared a Botanical Tea tag project a couple weeks ago.  So I hope you are not tired of this collection.  It is one of my top 5 favorite G45 collections of all time.  I honestly set out to make a regular card…nothing fancy.  But as I was working, this idea began to take shape in my head (never listen to the voices….they will get you in trouble every time!).  Before I knew it, I was in the middle of making another card folio.  Now that it’s finished…I’m glad I made it.  But in the middle of the process???  Not so much!

Botanical Tea Songbird Card Folio: The base layer

This is a 5.25″ x 7″ top fold folio with a 3/8″ spine.  The background layer is  a beautiful duotone botanical print with birds, butterflies, dragonflies and clocks.  I love it when I machine stitch around a card, because it makes the piece feel framed.

The lacy corner effect comes from die cutting with Tim Holtz’ Mixed Media Die #2.  I cut through both the designer paper and the cardstock matting to reveal the white card base.  That was spritzed with Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer Mist.  I really love this combination of stitched edges and die cut corner.

Botanical Tea Songbird Card Folio: The Focal Image

In keeping with the challenge guidelines, I chose this sweet pink songbird to serve as the focal image.  First, I die cut the image from one sheet of Botanical Tea using a large Spellbinder’s circle die.  Then, I die cut the doily frame using Graphic 45’s Square Tag and Clock Dies.  I adhered the frame over the die cut.  Next, the second image of the pink bird was fussy cut and layered over the original with foam tabs.  I love the dimension this created.  Foliage from Little Birdie Crafts (what else on a bird card?) adds lots of lovely green leaves to the fussy cut branch.  And Gilt Trip Prills add loads of beautiful texture.

If you look above the focal image, you’ll see a metal butterfly that I altered with Distress Paints.

Botanical Tea Songbird Card Folio: The Flowers

The flower cluster features altered metal flowers and Little Birdie Grey Printed Linz Petals.  Linda has added these fabulous metal flowers to the shop and I received some in my design team allotment package.  Before altering the silvertone flowers with paint, I used my Tonic Scissors to cut between the petals of one flower.  Then I lifted every other petal to create a sort of cup shape.  Then I painted the flowers with a combination of Antique Linen, Broken China and Tumbled Glass Distress Paint.  The two layers are adhered together with Glossy Accents.

Next, I reshaped one of the Little Birdie Flowers by sort of cupping it between my fingers. ( You can see me use this technique in my Little Birdie Video tutorials. )  Then, I adhered it in the center of the metal flower.  All the flowers are dry brushed with Antique Linen and Broken China Distress Paint and sprinkled with Prills.

The large pink rose is just fussy cut from the paper, popped up on foam tabs and shaped a bit with my fingers.

Botanical Tea Songbird Card Folio: A Peek Inside

Inside, I’ve created a hinged waterfall feature and a fun tag pocket.

The waterfall feature took a little figuring out, but basically, I scored a flap, then scored a second line 1/4″ to the right.  This created a little spine.  If you want to give this a try, don’t adhere your liner paper until after you’ve built the waterfall.  That way, you can run your ribbon closure behind the page, wrap it around and tie it shut.

I’ve added some little flaps, tuck spots and journal spots inside the waterfall.  The tea cups are die cut with Tim’s Tea Time Sizzix die.  Aren’t they fun?  I wish I had a pink polka dot tea cup.  The reason I included the tea cups is that I am a real tea lover.  And since the challenge said to create a project that makes me happy…well…there had to be tea.

Botanical Tea Songbird Card Folio: The tags!

Tags make me happy, too.  So I covered a Graphic 45 Ivory Square Tag with designer paper.  Now that I can cover these tags so easily with the G45 tag dies, I want to make tags even more often! This tag has a little pocket adorned with a fussy cut image from the collection.  Because pockets also make me happy.  Would you like to see what’s in the pocket?

A sweet little trio of ATC tags.  How fun is that?  Oh, and there’s a honey stick in the box style pocket, too.  (I have video tutorials for how to make a box pocket, too.)

“B” Happy Challenge: Now it’s YOUR turn!

I hope you’ll play along in this fun challenge by linking up your vintage or shabby chic Bird, Bee or Butterfly inspired project at the Frilly and Funkie Challenge Blog.

The winner will earn the chance to be a Guest Designer here at Frilly and Funkie, and everyone who enters and follows the rules will go into the draw for the chance to win a $25 spending spree at The Funkie Junkie Boutique. We are also awarding Top 3 Badges for three further outstanding entries, chosen by the Design Team, because we can’t pick just one favorite!

You have until 11:59PM EDT on Tuesday, July 17th to link your project.

I can’t wait to see what you make!

I hope I’ve shared some tips, techniques and ideas that you can use in your own craft adventures.  If so, I’d love to hear from you in the comment section below.

Thanks for stopping by!

Cheerio,

kathy

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