Handicrafts by Kate Perry and other ramblings

Thursday, November 1, 2012

Exploding Christmas card.

Today I have finished off the card that was a WIP on my desk in yesterday's post. It is a fairly simple Christmas card......


.......with a nice little surprise when you open it.


Sandra, over on Stamping for Pleasure, made a couple of these cards last week, and I asked her for some guidelines for folding the insert. She kindly did a very easy to follow tutorial which you can find here.

I decided to make mine for Christmas so I used a Chocolate Baroque ornate corner stamp and a very ancient Posh Impressions poinsettia stamp to decorate my square. I stamped some of the ink off onto scrap paper first as I didn't want the rather large image to be too dominating. The greeting is actually much clearer than it looks here.

For the cover I used a die-namics swirl die, and some Marianne dies to cut and assemble the flower corner. The backing paper is printed from a Crafter's Companion CD and edged with a Martha Stewart punch.

As I was quite happy with the finished card, I then cut out enough pieces to make another five flower corners. I have printed out sufficient backing paper so now I just have to stamp and fold another five inserts! I have done the first of these and this time I used a very fine, elegant Chocolate Baroque corner stamp, and two sets of Tapestry peg stamps. I used to enjoy using these but they haven't seen the light of days for a very long time. 

I think I prefer it to the large images, but I have crowded it a bit so I will spread the images out a little more next time. (Feel free to disagree with me. I am always open to suggestions!).

Right back to some stamping now. Thanks Sandra for your help.

8 comments:

Di said...

Brilliant Kate - love the results. Good to see that Sarn's super tutorial is being put to use :) And I love the Tapestry peg stamps, haven't had mine out to play this year........yet :)

Di xx

Jean said...

What a lovely card Kate,the layered poinsettia on the front looks great with those lovely swirls.I rather like the insert in the first one as I totally love that corner stamp, the other one is pretty too but I think you are right about leaving it a little more open next time.I always have a problem of knowing when to stop with those stamps. Jean x

kiwimeskreations said...

What beautiful cards Kate - I love that exploding technique, but have not used it for years. Love the way you have decorated them both.
Blessings
Maxine

Saskia said...

Wow, great card! I love the poinsettia layered like this and the swirls behind it. Your stamping is really awesome on the folded piece, but I also like the smaller stamps you've used on the next one, it doesn;t looke crowded at all, I would keep them so close together.

JoZart Designs said...

Really lovely card Kate! I don't think they are too busy but try another and you can always add as you go along now that you are considering this option!
Have a great weekend,
Jo x

Sarn said...

Hi Kate . . . pleased to be of service! I'm glad you had a go at this because you've got great results.

Easy once you've made the first one eh?

Personally, I prefer the first insert, but both are lovely.

Hugs
Sarn xxx

Glenda Atkins said...

Beautiful card, love the inside, so very creative! totally love the dimensional poinsettia!

Carol said...

Great cards......love the tapestry pegs.......ahven't used mine either inages!!!!!! Thanks for the spur on. Infact have something Christmasy I might now also try with them!!!! Thanks for the inspiration
Carol x