Flower Happy Birthday Stepper Card

It's my friend Jackie's birthday on Friday and this is the stepper card I made for her.  When I sat at my desk to make this I knew I wanted to create a stepper card and I wanted to use pretty My Mind's Eye Lime Twist papers - but that was it.  I took my colour combo from the colours in the papers - I used Cherry Cobbler, Lucky Limeade, Blushing Bride, Early Espresso, Pool Party and just a dash of Calypso Coral ink.  This card evolved and took shape as I went along and it took ages to come together.  I kept trying different stamps, punches, dies, ribbons, not to mention different placement of the elements!  You know what?  I didn't care one jot how long it took, it was a pure joy to make, I had the time and inclination just to sit and play, it was fab!

I started off with a 6" x 6" PaperMania foldies card - a foldies card is a concertina card with 5 square panels in all.  I chopped two panels off - which I can use to make a normal square card - and I scored and folded the third panel at the halfway mark to form the stepper card.  Then I glued pretty papers and CS mat layers and started to work on the main circle element.  I die cut a couple of leafy branches out of the woodgrain patterned paper and then tried several die cut, punched and stamped flowers before hitting on the winner from the Mixed Bunch set.  I inked the stamp with Calypso Coral ink and then added Cherry Cobbler ink around the edges with a sponge dauber.  I added a punched Limeade circle with a decorative brad in the centre.

I wanted to mount the flower  and branches onto a white circle but it didn't look quite right on just plain white.  The patterned paper has some distressing to it so I thought I'd add a touch of colour with some distress ink.  I added texture first by embossing the circle with my Bricked embossing folder and then I lightly sponged Antique Linen ink over the embossed areas and sponged the edges of the circle.  I die cut two circle mat layers, one Cherry Cobbler and one Lucky Limeade and I popped the white circle up over the Limeade circle.  I then mounted the circle onto a square of Blushing Bride CS, rounded the corners and added chocolate candy dots.  I popped the flower up and added the sentiment fishtail banner.  I'd applied some Old Olive scalloped ribbon before gluing the patterned paper panel to the card and I decided to add some Early Espresso narrow taffeta ribbon tied in a knot over the top.  Still not finished with the front - I added photo corners, butterflies and gems to the bodies.

Here's a side view of the card.

 So now it was time to move onto the back of the card which is where I wanted my sentiment and where I would write my message.  A strip of pretty paper, a scalloped Limeade CS strip and a narrow strip of Espresso CS went at the bottom.  I stamped the sentiment onto Pool Party CS, punched it out with the Decorative Label punch and added Cherry Cobbler mat pieces.

The great thing about the packs of foldies cards is that they come with gusseted envelopes which can accommodate cards with a bit of bulk and dimension.  I kept to the same layout as the back of the card to decorate the front of the envelope, I just used different paper and colours of CS and added a stamped frame.  It was a marathon crafting session, spread over 2 days  but I enjoyed it muchly!  I've known Jackie since we met at primary school at the age of 5!  She's definitely worth taking the time and trouble for!  What I didn't enjoy quite so much was gathering up and putting away the mountain of supplies I'd used or tried and rejected!

Supplies:
Stamps: SU! Mixed Bunch & Happiest Birthday Wishes sets, Hobby Art 'Sentiments' clear set
CS: PaperMania white 6" x 6" foldies card, SU! Cherry Cobbler, Lucky Limeade, Blushing Bride, Early Espresso, Pool Party & Whisper White
Patterned paper: various My Mind's Eye Lime Twist papers
Ink: SU! Calypso Coral, Cherry Cobbler, Lucky Limeade & Early Espresso, Tim Holtz Antique Linen Distress ink
Tools: Poppystamps Lorelai Branch die, circle Nestabilities dies, SU! Blossom, Decorative Label, Photo Corners & 1/2" circle punches, SU! Beautiful Wings Embosslits die, MFT Fishtail Flags Stax die, Sizzix Tim Holtz 'Bricked' embossing folder, Crop-a-dile Corner Chomper, Sizzix Scallops Decorative Strip die,  paper piercer, sponge daubers
Embellishments & accessories:  SU! Old Olive Scallop Dots ribbon, SU! Early Espresso 1/8" taffeta ribbon,  SU! Everyday Enchantment brad, Pebbles Inc, Chocolate Candy Dots, rhinestone jewels, 3d foam tape