Hello, Friends! I’m one of those folks that loves pumpkin everything, but I’m especially fond of this Pumpkin Butterfly Bouquet Card Folio. Copper and autumn and pumpkins and acorns and butterflies and fall flowers just belong together.
You know how a really good autumn stew combines a bunch of different ingredients to create the perfect bite? Well, I sort of used that same approach when putting this project together. The cover of this 7 1/4″ x 5 1/4″ folio features Copper and Cream plaid ribbon. It’s one of my favorites for fall because of the warmth it brings to a composition. It picks up all the lovely tawny hues the Blue Fern Bird Waltz paper that I used on this card.
The delicate swirled layer behind my floral pumpkin patch is created with Spellbinders Merry Filigree Card Making die. Cut from copper foiled cardstock, it lends elegance and subtle shine to the background.
The Pumpkin Patch
Reneabouquets swept me off my feet with this Autumn Beauty Pumpkin. Fall flowers around the base serve as an anchor. Pumpkin Spice Butterflies flit lazily in this end of season flower garden.
TIP: Brush acorns with copper metallic paint, then cozy them up to the copper and cream ribbon and burlap string bow cluster.
A Surprise Inside
One of the things I love the most about this time of year is fall baking. After a long, steamy summer, it’s really fun to take the chill off the house by baking some pumpkin goodies.
So I created a hidden recipe card pocket on the top of this card. Copper and cream plaid ribbon makes a pretty closure. Pumpkin bread is one of my favorite fall treats, so I tucked a recipe for it in the pocket, along with 2 blank recipe cards. This way the recipient can add their favorite fall recipes, too. And if you’re going to bake pumpkin bread, you really should have a cuppa! So a little packet of honey, a demitasse spoon, and a tea and chocolate wallet fill the box pocket on the bottom. Have you discovered yet how delicious chocolate is with pumpkin? You really should give it a try!
What’s your favorite fall baked good? I’d love to hear about it in the comment section below.
Hello, Friends! Let’s kick off a week of fall favorites with this Dragonfly Dance Mixed Media Folio. I’ve been systematically re-organizing and purging my studio for the past several weeks. My sweet husband asked me if I was looking for something specific as I rummaged through the Closet of Shame, various drawers and bins. My answer was, “Yes, I’m looking for 10 more square feet of space in my studio.” Ever felt that way? (The truth is: if I had it, I would just fill it up with more paper pretties.) So a good purge and reorganization spree is the best remedy. While there is still a long way to go, I’ve made great progress. The studio is definitely feeling less cluttered.
The best part about going through all your “stuff” is that you stumble across older paper collections that you had forgotten about. And some of these, like this Blue Fern Bird Waltz Collection, are exquisitely beautiful. I also unearthed some older chipboard pieces and some now-retired Little Birdie Flowers. Why not take a break from organizing and have a play? So I did!
Autumnal Hues
I wish you could see this piece in person. There’s something really magical about the soft autumnal hues, the mixed media textures and the general design. We get a lot of foggy fall mornings here in North Carolina. The clamor of daily life feels as though it has been muted and softened somehow. This folio makes me feel like that. It’s absolutely one of my favorite creations.
First I created a 6×6 top fold base with a 1/2″ spine. Then I added what I am calling a “second story” to the design by making a 4 3/4″ x 7″ panel on the left. Why, you may ask? Because I was working with pre-cut panels of the designer paper. I can’t recall ever having done a folio front quite like this before, but the end result is wonderful, so I may do it again!
Mixed Media Mayhem
Next, I had to pull my mixed media boots out of the Closet of Shame to finish this lovely chipboard frame. First, I painted it with a coat of ivory chalk paint. Then, I heat embossed it with Shabby Ivory Embossing Enamel. But the ivory didn’t blend well with the copper tones in the paper collection. So I rifled through my mixed media shelf and found some Copper Viva Decor 3-D Stamp Paint. This stuff is like a thick mousse with lots of texture and a vintage patina. A little dab goes a long way. I tapped some out onto my non-stick craft sheet, then tapped it over the heat embossed frame with my finger. Magic! The texture of the embossing enamel gave the finished frame a wonderful rusty/pebbly finish.
Once the frame was dry, I flipped it over, added foam strips filled it with sequins and turned it into a shaker element. The resin crown from my stash and the little dragonfly charm are also tapped with the Copper Stamp Paint. Then I rubbed them with a little turquoise metallic wax.
This Reneabouquets dragonfly adds the perfect pop of color. I have actually seen the October sky this shade of blue. Have you?
Dragonfly Dance Mixed Media Folio: A Peek Inside
I decided to make the inside of the folio into a tea party in a box. First, I added side flaps to the top half of the card. Once again, these were pre-cut scraps from an earlier project. I also found some die cut corners and frames from an earlier project tucked in with the papers, so I put them to good use here.
The gatefold opening is so elegant.
I could not bring myself to cover up this glorious dragonfly image.
Next I created a little 5″ x 5″ photo wallet using up more scraps. This fits neatly in the box pocket.
Then I added some special treats. This is always a fun exercise for me.
I found this gorgeous Printed Beautiful Board ATC tag while organizing my Reneabouquets chips. It only took a moment to top it with a key and a bit of metallic string. And do you spy the darling little acorn shaped spoon? Those were a great find…and now I have used them all up. Maybe it’s time to hit some estate sales again, now that I’ve created a little extra space in the studio!
If you’d like to see other projects created from the Bird Waltz paper collection, please click HERE. This folio is available for purchase in my ETSY SHOP.
It was so refreshing to create a project simply because I wanted to. Don’t get me wrong: I love my job and am honored to represent the amazing companies that I work for. But every once in a while I need to just “play” in the studio and not worry about tutorials or videos or deadlines or assignments. It helps keep me fresh and reminds me why I love paper as much as I do. So I hope you don’t mind my sharing this lovely little folio with you. Perhaps I shared some tips or ideas that you can use in your own crafty adventures. Or maybe you feel inspired to dig into your own stash and uncover some buried treasure. I certainly hope so!
Thanks for stopping by!
Cheerio,
kathy
SUPPLY LIST
Please note: since this is a “Closet of Shame” project, some of the items I used may be retired or sold out. I will link whenever possible, but if you don’t see something listed below, it’s because it is no longer available. Thanks for understanding!
Autumn Roses Gatefold Card Folio with Blue Fern Studios Bird Waltz Papers
Hello, Friends! Happy Friday! Have you ever noticed that as summer winds down, roses seem to be at their most beautiful? Today’s Blue Fern Studios Autumn Roses Gatefold Card pays tribute to the glorious flowers of fall.
There are a few mixed media touches on this card: custom dyed seam binding ribbon, handmade roses, and Seth Apter Vintage Beeswax Baked Texture lend even more richness to the elegant Bird Waltz papers.
TIP: Stamp the Classic Roses onto patterned paper using Terra Cotta Ink. Then die cut. The patterned paper creates instant depth and ensures that your handmade flowers will match your papers perfectly.
TIP: Use a sponge dauber to brush additional ink on the edges of the petals for even more beauty.
Autumn Roses Gatefold Card Folio: A Peek Inside
Gatefold cards provide you with lots of nooks and crannies. Use these areas for sentiment panels, mini pockets, and to display images.
You knew there had to be a pocket somewhere in the mix, didn’t you? I do love a good pocket!
It’s the perfect spot to tuck in a little decorative tea wallet, vintage silver plate demitasse spoon and a journal card from The Bird Waltz Paper Collection.
I built this pocket on the front of a flap page. Fold the flap down to reveal a waterfall cascade and a photo mount. Isn’t that fun?
I hope I’ve shared some tips, tricks and inspiration that you can use in your own crafty adventures. If so, I’d love to hear from you in the comment section below. To see more cards with the lovely Blue Fern Studio Bird Waltz Collection, click HERE.
Hello, Friends! Happy Monday! Today’s Blue Fern Studio Bird Waltz Card Folio is rich with autumn colors and shabby chic details. I think you are going to love it!
Look at that cheeky little bluebird perched on top of the pocket on this 5″ x 7″ pocket card. Isn’t he dear? Here’s how to make the shaped pocket for the front of this card.
First, cut out a 6″ x 3 1/2″ panel of the designer paper. Fussy cut along the floral and leaf images, and around the bird.
Now, score a 1/2″ panel along the bottom side of the panel.
Next, score 1/2″ on both sides.
Then trim out the corners, fold and adhere to form a pocket.
Adhere a bit of Laserowe Love chipboard to the bottom edge of the pocket.
Place these lovely ButterBee Scraps filigree pieces in the center of the pocket.
Create a cluster of fall chrysanthemums and seam binding ribbon between the two filigree pieces.
TIP: Ink cut paper edges with Gathered Twigs Distress Ink for the perfect touch fall.
TIP: Add vintage charm with an ivory crochet lace border at the top, and a trio of vintage mother of pearl buttons down the side.
Blue Fern Studios Bird Waltz Card Folio: Making the Tag Insert
To make the large tag insert, cut a 4″ x 7″ rectangle from kraft cardstock. Round the bottom corners with a 1/4″ corner rounder punch. Shape the top edge with a scallop corner punch.Cut a slightly smaller panel of designer paper and shape the corners to match the tag base. Machine stitch or adhere to the tag base.
Paint the Blue Fern Studios Chipboard with ivory chalk paint. While still wet, heat emboss with Stampendous Shabby Ivory Embossing Enamel.
Cut a small circle of mostly open patterned paper and stamp with your sentiment of choice. Adhere behind the chipboard. Attach sequins and seed beads with Art Institute Dries Clear Adhesive.
Punch a hole at the top of the tag and add ribbon and flowers. Adhere a wooden dragonfly charm at the base of the tag. Then adhere the extra piece of Laserowe Love chipboard along the top.
Blue Fern Studios Bird Waltz Card Folio: A Peek Inside
The inside of the card has another pretty pocket and a hand stamped sentiment panel.
These vintage silver plate spoons are so delicate and lovely. They turn a card like this one into a gift, especially when accompanied by a pretty little tea wallet.
I just love the colors in this paper collection. I stumbled across it while shopping online one day, and knew immediately that it needed to come live with me. I’ll be sharing more with it soon.
Hurricane Dorian Update
As a side note, I’d like to thank those who reached out to me during Hurricane Dorian. Your prayers, kind thoughts, words and prayers meant so much to me and Dale. We were truly blessed, as we did not even lose power during the storm. And we always lose power! The lights flickered on and off all through the wind and rain, but no power outages, no flooding and no damage to our little home. Thank you so much! Your prayers worked!
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. You’ll also find a linked supply list at the end of this post.
