Authentique Imagine Carousel Themed Birthday Party Ensemble

YouTube Video and Snapguide Tutorial

Hello, Friends!  I’m  a big believer in the old saying that age is just a number.  Today’s carousel themed birthday party ensemble is testament to that fact.  Made with gorgeous Authentique Imagine papers, this table centerpiece, birthday card folio and birthday quote wallet are the perfect gift for any woman who is celebrating an all important “milestone” birthday.

(There are loads of photos, a YouTube video tour and a Snapguide tutorial to follow, so you might want to go grab a cuppa and a snack before we begin.  Or, just scroll down to the bottom and watch the video tour. )

Normally, we connect carousel rides with little kids, but when I got my hands on this dreamy Imagine paper collection, my mind went right to grown up ladies.  Girls just want to have fun, right?

Carousel Themed Bendi Card Birthday Centerpiece with Snapguide Tutorial

I have discovered a new crafting obsession.  These oversized Bendi Card centerpieces are just too much fun to make, and I can’t stop myself.

For this beauty, I combined  patterned papers, fussy cut images, Detail Stickers, chipboard elements, Petaloo flowers, Striped Chevron Ribbon and a button from my stash.  I’ll share a supply list and product links at the end of this post.

Several of you have asked me if there is a tutorial for making this Bendi Card base.  Well, there is now.  I worked up a Snapguide Tutorial that you can adapt for use with the paper of your choice.

Here’s a good tip for you: Whenever I take a fancy fold card design for a “test drive” I create the base with my cheapest cardstock.  There’s always a learning curve involved, and I’d rather destroy a cheap piece of cardstock than a piece of my gorgeous designer papers.  Once you’ve made the prototype, then you can cut into your pretty papers.  And remember: measure twice, cut once!

Check out How to Make a Carousel Bendi Card Authentique “Imagine” by Kathy Clement on Snapguide.

Carousel Themed Birthday Card Folio

The focal image on this card inspired this entire project.  I was enchanted by this lovely white haired grandma riding the carousel with her grandson.  This is who I want to be when I grow up!

Because I really don’t enjoy shopping (unless it’s for paper pretties) I have developed the habit of giving a gift card or cash gift for most birthdays and holidays.  But I still want my gift to be special.  This desire prompted me to start creating what I call birthday card folios.  These are gifts all on their own, but I always include a spot to tuck in a gift card.

I begin these cards by building a  5″ x 7″ top fold card base.  Although this looks like a standard card front, I’ve designed a really fun surprise element in.  See that little brown binder clip? Remove it, and you’ll find a secret compartment filled with lovely surprises.

TIP:

I build my cards “inside out.”  Because I want to keep the cover of my cards clean, I create the entire cover, but don’t glue it to the card base until the inside is finished.  This way, flowers don’t get crushed, and I don’t accidentally pick up any mess from my crafting surface.  It’s also easier to work on the inside of a card before the bulky elements on the cover have been added.

How fun is this?  I’ve created a little tuck spot by fussy cutting the pretty carousel pony silhouette from the designer paper.  It’s popped up on a piece of waste shipping package.  You can write a little note and tuck it in here.

Turn an image from the cut apart page into an open sided pocket when you glue just the bottom edge.  Then tuck this fun gift card tag behind it.

Have you ever noticed how beautiful some product packaging is?  I just can’t bring myself to toss it in the recycle bin.  The base of this tag is made from Petaloo flower packaging.  I sanded it lightly, painted it with Distress Paints, then created a belly band with gorgeous papers and detail stickers.

Top the gift card tag with pretty ribbon and some green metal posies, and you’d never guess its humble beginnings.    Then decorate a mini file folder with designer papers……

…and your tag becomes a hidden gift card holder.  Fun, fun, fun!

A Peek Inside

Now we get to open the body of this folio.  And what do we find?  Even more surprises.  I started by  sewing vintage buttons to a hand made button card. Then I tuckednext it into this pretty side pocket.

Next, I went to work on the bottom half of the birthday card folio.  Stamped sentiments, a sweet little paper spool of ribbon to go along with the button card and some fun treats can be found here.

When it’s your birthday, it’s OK to eat chocolate…even for breakfast!  LOL  I also created a sweet little tea bag holder that I decorated with one of the images from the cut apart page.

Of course, you could tuck anything into this little wallet, but I happen to love tea.  Now, let’s take a look at the final member of this Carousel Themed Birthday Party Ensemble.

Carousel Themed Birthday Quote Wallet

I thought it would be fun to create a little quote wallet filled with all kinds of happy thoughts about growing older.  Also, I hate to deal with scraps….and I had just enough paper left on my desktop to create this little 4″ x 6″ quote wallet.  LOL

When I have design paper that is as gorgeous as this, I tend to save every little scrap.  Use a torn edge to make a pretty border on a page.  Cut small strips into banner flags like the ones that flutter beneath the sticker medallion.  They are just too pretty to waste!

Then you can just stamp (or write, or computer journal) your favorite quotes and add them to the wallet.

Here’s how I created this simple tri-fold quote wallet:

1. First, cut a piece of cardstock to measure 11″ long x 6″ high.
2. Then, placing the long side against the rail of your scoring tool, score at 4″ and 8″.
3. Now burnish the score lines with a bone folder.
4. Fold the right hand side toward the center and the left hand side over it.
5. Decorate as desired.

I also like to use small scraps to create cute little tags like the one I tucked into this pocket.

Carousel Themed Birthday Party Ensemble Video on YouTube

I share more tips, tricks and ideas in this 10 minute YouTube video tour of the album.

I hope I’ve inspired you to get out your pretty papers, scissors and glue and get your craft on!  If so, I’d love to hear from you in the comment section below.

Thanks for stopping by!

Cheerio,

kathy

Supply List and Product Links

(Note, I’ve provided product links whenever possible, but some items have been in my stash a long time, and are no longer available online.  I’m sure you can find a good subsitute in your own crafty stash.)

Authentique Products:

• Imagine Collection Kit (Includes Detail Sticker Sheet)

Other Products:

• 4 sheets of chocolate brown 8,5 x11 cardstock
• Scor-Pal Scoring Tool
• 1/8″, 1/4″ Scor-Tape
• Pink Chevron Ribbon
• silver metallic string
• mixed pinks confetti dots grosgrain ribbon
• wooden button, hand stamped button card, vintage buttons from my stash
• metal flowers (a gift from my crafty pal Ginny Nemchak)
• Petaloo Pink Daisies
• Petite Petaloo Pink Darjeeling Blooms
• Darjeeling Tea Stained Butterflies
• Carousel Horses Chipboard (these seem to be retired, but you may be able to find a substitute HERE.)
• Southern Ridge Trading Co. Leaf Sprigs
• Coffee Archival Ink
• Vintage Photo Distress Ink
• Rose Gold Embossing Enamel
• Versamark Ink Pad
• Mixed Media Fragments Chipboard
• Distress Paint: Peeled Paint, Antique Linen, Picket Fence, Tattered Rose
• Stampendous Shabby Ivory Embossing Enamel