Graphic 45 Imagine Castles in the Air Interactive Folio

Hello, Friends!  Has Graphic 45’s new Imagine Collection found its way to your area yet?  Ooh la la, how I love these fabulous papers.  I was fortunate enough to receive these papers well before the release date.  The minute I opened the package, I was smitten.  This collection has inspired so many ideas and projects for me.  The one I’m sharing today was sent to the Graphic 45 offices to be used in a Facebook “release party.”  G45 also shared it with the fine folks at AFCI , and they posted it on their blog earlier this month. (Creativation) .  I haven’t been able to share it with you until now.  This is one of my all time favorite folio designs and I’m hoping you will be inspired by it, too.

Imagine Castles in the Air Interactive Folio

Graphic 45’s sumptuous Imagine collection is so deliciously whimsical and steampunky and playful that my mind immediately began to race with ideas.  Maybe I could fussy cut some of the fabulous images. Perhaps I should dig into those tantalizing patterns and layer up a card.  Or, I could focus on one of the enticing collage images on the cut apart page. At the end of the day, I opted to do all of the above, and worked up this whimsical trifold folio to share with you today.  As you can see from this photo, I chose to work with the butterfly motif…and it does make me oh, so very happy!

Don’t you want to live in this house, perched high in the air?  Imagine the view you’d have of these hot air balloons! I just fell in love with this image and decided to spotlight it in a fun shaker style frame.

TIP: To cover the adhesive edges of this shaker frame, I cut out two of the same image.  One served as the base. I cut the center from the 2nd image and set it aside for use later.  This left me with the frame, which I adhered to the shaker element top, neatly hiding the foam adhesive from view.

Imagine Castles in the Air Interactive Folio: Fussy Cuts and Florals

This handsome Staples Metal Lion’s Head Door Knocker looks perfectly at home on the folio cover.  I’ve added a gorgeous cascade of Little Birdie Flowers and a wreath of fussy cut elements to frame the front cover.

TIP: Fussy cut butterflies add great movement and dimension to the cover design.  I’ve cut between the top and bottom wings to add more lift. Then I gently bent the top wings upwards to give them a more dimensional look. I adhered them with dimensionals to add height.

This folio measures 5” x 7” with ¾” spines and a ribbon closure.  I’ve tucked all kinds of interactive features inside.

Imagine Castles in the Air Interactive Folio: A Peek Inside

If you love flips and flaps, pockets and tags, and fun surprises then this folio will be your cup of tea!

TIP: Ephemera cards are a quick way to add flaps to a folio.  I make a hinge by cutting a 1.5” wide piece of paper slightly shorter than the height of the card.  This is folded in half lengthwise to create a hinge with two ¾” wide flaps. I adhere one flap under my ephemera card (matted on kraft cardstock)  and the other to the folio base. For a top-loading flap, simply cut the hinge slightly smaller than the width of the ephemera card, and repeat the process.

Imagine Castles in the Air Interactive Folio: Tips and Tricks

ATC Policy envelopes also make great flaps!   Dress them up with a Staples Antique Bronze Clock Key and labels from the Imagine collection.  Hold the flaps shut with a custom paper clip embellishment.  

These are quick and easy to make: just thread banner flags cut from patterned paper through the paper clip opening and secure with adhesive.  Then top with a button, a flower, or as I did here, a gear.

TIP: Make custom covers for the “buttons” on your Policy Envelopes by punching ½” circles from patterned papers.

Imagine Castles in the Air Interactive Folio: Pockets and Word Tags

The center pocket in this folio houses a trio of G45’s Laser Cut Square Tags.  Each tag has a laser cut sentiment down the right hand side.

It’s really quick and easy to dress these tags up with paper scraps and small images from the 12×12 collection. 

TIP: Use your G45 Square Tag and Clock Dies to cut brown cardstock to line the back of each tag.  Use this area to mount 4″ x 4″ photos.  As a bonus, the paper liner really makes the laser cut words POP!

TIP: Create mini folios to top your tag!  Score a 5.75” x 4.25 rectangle in half on the long side.  Fold to make a folio. Line with patterned papers and adhere to tag front.

Imagine Castles in the Air Interactive Folio: Creating Borders, Pockets, and Waterfalls

TIP: Turn a wide border strip into a pocket by adhering it in a “U” shape.  Then fill it with 3” x 4” mini folios. This gives you a great place to add wallet sized photos or journaling.

TIP: A waterfall feature allows you to load lots of pictures in to a small space.  It’s a great addition to any folio. Each individual element in this one measures 3.75” x 5”.

Imagine Castles in the Air Interactive Folio YouTube Video Tour

To help you get a feel for the way all these moving parts come together, I’ve prepared a short YouTube Project Share.  Enjoy!

 

I hope I’ve shared some tips, tricks and ideas that you can use in your own crafty 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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