Stars and Stripes Forever Independence Day Decor with Authentique “Heroic”

Hello, Friends! It’s officially summer and that means the 4th of July is right around the corner. If you are hosting a cookout celebration, you might want to start thinking about a little Independence Day decor. With that in mind, I dipped into the gorgeous new “Heroic” collection from Authentique papers and put together some fancy fold cards that can double as home decor.

Red, White and blue Through and Through Step Out Card

The great thing about fancy fold cards is that they are a a natural for home decor. Because I wanted the option to use this card as home decor, I made the base to measure 7″ long x 5″ tall. (You can find the YouTube video tutorial for this card base HERE.)

Die cut stitched stars make me think of 4th of July fireworks and add a great sense of motion to this card. I’ve used 12×12 Details stickers from the Heroic Collection to add extra detail. The blue stars are cut from foil paper for a little extra shimmer.

Wouldn’t this make a great table centerpiece on your Independence day table?

The vintage patriotic gal on this large panel on the right is not just another pretty face.

If you untie the Navy Blue Stars Grosgrain ribbon, you’ll discover that it’s a gift card wallet. This would make a great host or hostess gift for July 4th cookouts or a great birthday present for those lucky 4th of July babies.

Stars and Stripes Center Step Card

This dynamic star studded step out card would also look great on a 4th of July table. I used a Cheery Lynn die to cut the card base from kraft cardstock, then decorated it with an assortment of 12×12 and 6×6 Heroic papers.

Red, white and blue Petaloo flowers anchor the left hand corner of the card along with a multi-layered patriotic star. Double mat the ticket stickers to give them more presence on the card.

And, the card folds flat for storage, or for mailing.

I love to celebrate the 4th with our family. We have a long standing tradition of enjoying a meal of chili dogs, potato salad, and coleslaw. The grand finale to the picnic is homemade brownies and ice cream. Honestly, is there anything more fun than watching the sky come alive at night with brilliant fireworks? I can hardly wait!

I hope I’ve shared some ideas, tips and tricks with you today 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

Supply List

Authentique Heroic 12×12 Collection Kit (contains the detail stickers)

Heroic 6×6 Paper Bundle

My Favorite Things Stitched Star Die

Cheery Lynn Step Card Die

Navy Stars on White Grosgrain Ribbon

Red Sheer Iridescent Ribbon

Natural Burlap String

Petaloo Flowers

Cardstock: Kraft, Deep Red, Navy, Blue Foil

Scor-Tape, Buttons, Hot Glue, Scoring Tool, Craft Knife

Just in time for Summer: Authentique Heroic Patriotic Folio and Video Tour

Hello, Friends! And Happy Memorial Day to all my US friends! This holiday weekend is the official kick off for summer here in the states. We enjoy parades, picnics and family fun. It’s also a day when we honor those who gave their lives in the service of our country. As a young girl, our family always visited the local cemetery to decorate the graves of those who served in the military. It’s a somber day, but also a day when we celebrate the freedom that was won for us with great sacrifice. So it’s the perfect day to share this Authentique Heroic Patriotic Folio and video tour with you.

To make this folio, I first created two 5″ x 7″ side fold card bases from kraft cardstock. Then I overlapped the cards to create a trifold base. Next, I scored the base at 4.5″, 5.5″ 10.5″ and 11.5″ to create a trifold folio with two 1″ spines. This gives you lots of room to add pockets, mini folios, and waterfall features.

Decorate the album with stickers, Petaloo flowers, die cut stars, ribbon and scrabble tiles. To add extra texture, machine stitch around the perimeter of each page.

A Peek Inside

Create a decorative belly band for photo mounts by wrapping them with a 1″ strip of patterned paper, gluing together on the back side. Then cut an image from a 3″ x 4″ journal card and glue to the front of the belly band.

A large center pocket holds two mini 3.25″ x 4.25″ fold out folios.

The small pocket on the inside can hold a gift card or other small memorabilia.

How to make a Waterfall Feature

A waterfall feature is a great way to mount loads of photos in a small space. Here’s how I made the waterfall feature for this Authentique Heroic Patriotic Folio:

Begin by cutting five 4″ x 5″ rectangles from patterned paper.
Then score 1/2″ from the left on the long side of each rectangle. This forms the flap for your waterfall feature.
Use a corner punch to shape the edges, if desired.
Crease the score lines.
Add glue or adhesive to the back side of the first rectangle and line up along the top edge of the panel. Glue in place.
Continue adding panels, lining each flap up so that it is flush with the previous rectangle. Do not overlap, just line up.
Add a decorative cover to the waterfall feature, if desired. I mounted mine on waste chipboard to add a little extra dimension.

In this photo you can see how each flap lines up.

And here is a side view.

This is a project that you can easily complete in an afternoon. To help you get an idea of the flow of the album, I prepared a short 5 minute video tour. Enjoy!

Authentique Heroic Patriotic Folio Video Tour on YouTube

Be sure to stop by the Authentique Blog today as we are doing a group share of projects made with this beautiful Heroic collection. I know you’ll be inspired!

I’d like to wish you all a very safe and healthy Memorial Day. And I’d also like to offer my heartfelt thanks to all the service men and women who keep our country free. You are appreciated more than words can say!

Thanks for stopping by!

Cheerio,

kathy

Supply List & Product Links

Please note: I have provided product links when possible, but some items have been in my stash for a long time, and may no longer be available online. Feel free to substitute when necessary.

Authentique Heroic 12×12 Collection Kit

Heroic 6×6 Pad

Petaloo Botanica Chantilly Mixed Blooms, White

Blue Baby Botanica Mixed Blooms

Red Botanica Chantilly Mixed Blooms

1.5″ Silky Crush Ribbon, Red

Patriotic Plaid Ribbon

My Favorite Things Die-namics Stitched Star Die

Scrabble Tiles (U, S, A)

Tim Holtz Idea-Ology metal embellishment from my stash

2 Sheets of 8.5″ x 11 Kraft Cardstock

Red and Blue Cardstock for Matting