Bunny Easter Card with Xyron Adhesive and Doodlebug

This is my first post for the Xyron Design Team! I love Xyron adhesives (and lamination!). I have a 9 inch Creative Station that also accepts 5 inch cartridges. I have an old 9 inch Xyron as well - still in working condition - my husband uses it a lot to make player aids and other stuff for board gaming. The new design is much more compact - great for a craft room!

I like to add permanent adhesive to cardstock and paper before die cutting, or add it to die cuts that I cut using my electronic cutters (Silhouette Cameo, Cricut Maker). Instant stickers! This makes it easier to assemble, especially when there are lots of pieces.

The theme for this card is Spring/Easter. I chose to use Doodlebug Design Bunnyville paper (6x6 pad). This formed the color palette for my card. I used Karen Burniston's Twist Panel Pop-up dies for the inside of the card - a fun surprise when opened!

Copyright Notice: ©Mary Dimercurio Prasad. All rights reserved. Any illegal reproduction of this content, including images, will result in immediate legal action.

Disclaimer:  Please help support my work in this small way - just use my links if you plan to purchase anything - there's no extra cost to you. Here's the official jargon: links, affiliate links, and cookies may be used in this post and on this site. Using this site implies your consent. I participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, Share a Sale, and other affiliate programs; these affiliate advertising programs provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to amazon.com and/or other affiliated sites. This helps offset a small portion of my crafting addiction... uh, hobby. I am truly thankful for your kind support! I also receive free products from companies, possibly monetary compensation, and sometimes free products for review. Regardless, all opinions are my own. Google and Blogger use cookies to provide and improve their services. See Notice at the bottom of this blog for a longer description and/or see the full Privacy Policy for even more details.

Making the Card

1. I looked through my library of SVG files to find a bunny that closely matched the one in the Doodlebug Design Bunnyville paper pad. I chose to use the Easter Bunny from Miss Kate Cutables. I didn't want the cheeks, mouth, or shading though. I also wanted to add a bow and outfit to more closely resemble one of the bunnies in the paper pad designs. I used the "easter bunny-apart" SVG file and cut it with my Silhouette Cameo.

Used the Silhouette software to edit the file. First resize the image (I think I used 3 inches in height - just use the grid to measure one of the bunnies as you drag one corner until you have the size you want), then ungroup the image to separate the images. I deleted all images I didn't want (i.e. remove all but the simple eggs and delete bunnies 3, 4, and 5 counting from the left). Note: in my screen shot further below, you will see an extra white bunny layer, without a face but with ears cut out, on the right - I didn't end up using it; my original intention was to use it for filling in the eyes and nose but the pink bunny layer worked well enough for this, as you will see. Just cut the white bunny (ears filled in) on the right with pink cardstock (you can change the fill to pink if you like).

To edit the points, first select the layer to edit then click the tool below the move tool - if you hover over it, it says "Edit Points." Now you can click on points and drag to move, remove them (delete), or change the curves (by moving attached handles). I deleted all points for mouth and cheeks. Holding the control key while clicking brings up a menu (I used a Mac; this is the same as a right click). In hindsight, I wish I had made the eye holes bigger and moved the face further down. The eyes are not as big as they look in the original image above. Note: the colors do not matter - the cardstock that you cut does. I changed the fill (color) to match what I wanted in the final cuts. Again, you really only need three bunnies, the one with the face, the outline, and the white one (which I made pink).

Optional: to make a girl bunny, I found a file with a bow and edited/resized it. If you don't have one, just skip this and make a boy bunny with blue clothes. My file before cutting looks like the one below (you may want to save the file before proceeding to cut).

2. On your Silhouette cutting mat, arrange the cardstock and patterned papers. I cut each piece a little bigger than necessary to give me some wiggle room. Place each piece on the physical mat to match its corresponding image placement on the software mat grid. For example, the grass is between 4 and 5 1/2 inches vertically and between 0 and 3 inches horizontally. I added green patterned paper in this area. Your cursor should have lines going in each direction so you can read the positions on the rulers easily.

Cardstock and Papers Used

• White bunny: white cardstock
• Gray outline: light gray cardstock
• Pink bunny: pink cardstock
• Grass and ground: Gingham-Linen Rainbow Petite Prints
• Blue and orange eggs: Gingham-Linen Rainbow Petite Prints
• Yellow and pink eggs: Dot-grid-daisy-stripe Rainbow Petite Prints
• Girl bunny clothes: Dot-grid-daisy-stripe Rainbow Petite Prints

Silhouette mat with cardstock and patterned paper (don't need right white piece)

After cutting and removing most of the scrap parts

3. After cutting all the pieces, run them through the Xyron 9" Creative Station with Permanent Adhesive (you could use a 5" cartridge instead). If I have a lot of pieces, even small ones, I put them through my larger machine - I just use something like a bone folder to scoot them in so they touch the adhesive area before rolling them through. Alternatively, you may use the Xyron 1.5" Sticker Maker for small items.

Put pieces into Xyron 9" Creative Station

Use a bone folder or other tool to push small pieces further in

Die cuts after going through Xyron Creative Station plus Xyron Sticker Maker with blue egg

4. To make the card base, cut yellow cardstock 4 1/4 x 11 inches; fold in half to form a 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 inch top folding card base. Cut light blue cardstock 3 3/4 x 5 inches. Cut bunny/chick/sun patterned paper from Bunnyville 6x6 pad to 3 1/2 x 4 3/4 inches; adhere to light blue using Xyron Mega Runner. Adhere to front of card with Mega Runner.

5. Using rectangle die from Twist Panel Pop-up, die cut light blue cardstock; adhere to card front near center bottom as shown. Assemble Easter Bunny as follows:

Cut the body off the pink bunny at the chin, rounding from one side to the other with the shape of the head. You will use the body for the bunny clothes. On the white bunny, line up the light gray outline at the ears - only stick down the ears, leave the rest up. Line up the pink body with the feet and arms but do not press down. Gently put the gray outline over this and trace inside arms and legs (try not to get any pencil on the gray outline).

Pencil in lines as guides for cutting clothes

Remove the pink body and trim inside the lines to make clothes that fit over the bunny's belly. Check your cutting and retrim if necessary.

Trimmed down pink clothes

Line up ears of white bunny on pink head but do not press down yet. Use a pencil to lightly mark the eye locations (I marked it darker in the photo so it would show up). Use a brown alcohol marker (I used First Edition Graphic Markers 51 Chestnut; you could use Copic Sepia E37) to color where eyes will be. Be careful not to get any in the nose area. Adhere white layer over pink. Adhere bow where shown if desired.

Add brown marker behind eye area

Optional: once I had a template, I used it to cut the pink flowered pattern from Dot-grid-daisy-stripe Rainbow Petite Prints - you could leave it pink cardstock or trace it on blue if you want to make a boy bunny. Stick down the clothes then the outline.

Use template to cut flower pattern paper

Bunny with new clothes

6. Adhere grass ground (long oval) at bottom of blue frame on card front. Adhere grass where shown, then eggs and finally bunny.

7. Cut out "hippity, hoppity, Easter's on it's way!" label from Bunnyville 6x6 pad. Trim sides so dots are about 1/8 inch all the way around. Use 1/4 inch Corner Chomper to round the corners. Use foam tape to pop up label on card; see video below.

8. Create the inside card using Twist Panel Pop-up dies. Cut light blue cardstock 3 3/4 x 11 inches; fold in half. This will be the inside liner on which the pop-up mechanism (die cut) will go. Watch the video below before assembling. The cardstock and papers I used are listed below the video.

Pop-up arms: light blue cardstock
Pop-up panels: yellow cardstock
Panels are all decorated with patterned paper from Bunnyville
1st Panel: sunshine paper cut with rectangle die, square house scene with 1/4 inch rounded corners
2nd Panel: Easter words cut with rectangle die
3rd Panel: animal stack with 1/2 inch rounded corners
4th Panel: jelly beans cut with rectangle die, square "Happy Easter" (trim excess)
Top decoration: bunny family with 1/2 inch rounded corners
Banner flags: triangle - flower, chick, girl bunny; fishtail - boy bunny, flowers, sunshines

I used my Mega Runner for most of the adhesive and liquid glue for the rest (e.g. to glue twine behind panels). To sting the banners, cut a small slit in the middle of the curves, top left 1st panel, top right 2nd panel, top left 3rd panel, top right 4th panel. String the banner flags along the pink/white twine before securing. Once you are happy with how it is strung, glue twine from behind and trim of any excess.

Supplies

• Xyron 9" Creative Station and Permanent Adhesive
• Optional: Xyron 1.5" Sticker Maker
• Xyron Mega Runner
• Silhouette Cameo Cutting Machine (or Cricut Cutting Machine)
• Karen Burniston in Cahoots with Riley and Company Dies: Twist Panel Pop-up (1009)
• Miss Kate Cuttables SVG: Easter Bunny
• Doodlebug Design 6x6 Paper Pads: Bunnyville, Gingham-Linen Rainbow Petite Prints, Dot-grid-daisy-stripe Rainbow Petite Prints
• Cardstock: White, Pink, Dark Pink, Light Gray, Yellow, Light Blue
• Brown Alcohol Marker: First Edition Graphic Markers 51 Chestnut (you could also use Copic Sepia E37)
• Bone Folder (Burnishing Bone)
• We R Memory Keepers 1/4" and 1/2" Corner Chomper
• Twine: Pink/White

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Sweet Puppy Pop-up Birthday Card

I used this sweet Dreamerland Crafts stamp "Love My Puppy" as the foundation for my Spinner Square Pop-up birthday card. I wanted to have the image peeking through a front window in the card, then when opened, have the sentiment move down as the image pops up. The fun Doodlebug Design papers I used - Sugar Shoppe - are older (from 2014) although you can still find some around. Of course you can substitute some of the newer Doodlebug Design papers, just adjust the colors to match.

Once again I'm testing Lavender Spike Oil as my blending solvent. It has a very strong smell of lavender so if you don't like lavender, I don't recommend it. The fumes are not toxic (unlike other popular solvents). This time I'm using it with oil based pencils - Faber-Castell Polychromos. I must say, they blended beautifully.

Disclaimer: Please help support my work in this small way - just use my links if you plan to purchase anything - there's no extra cost to you. Here's the official jargon: links, affiliate links, and cookies may be used in this post and on this site. Using this site implies your consent. I participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, Share a Sale, and other affiliate programs; these affiliate advertising programs provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to amazon.com and/or other affiliated sites. This helps offset a small portion of my crafting addiction... uh, hobby. I am truly thankful for your kind support! I also receive free products from my design team companies, possibly monetary compensation, and sometimes free products for review. Regardless, all opinions are my own. Google and Blogger use cookies to provide and improve their services. See Notice at bottom of blog for a longer description and/or see the full Privacy Policy for even more details.

Making the Card

1. Use Stamp Platform to stamp Love My Puppy (Dreamerland Crafts) on Strathmore 500 Bristol Plate in Memento Tuxedo Black ink. Use Black Copic Multiliner SP .3 to draw a ground line across image background.

2. Color image using Faber-Castell Polychromos colored pencils, blending with Lavender Spike Oil and blending stumps. Note: I use a Kum Long Point Sharpener to sharpen my pencils - it gives you a very fine point in two steps. Once the image has been colored, use the largest square from Spinner Square Pop-up to die cut image. This will be your pop-up platform (step 3).

3. Before assembling the card, watch the video below - specific notes follow. I recommend watching the video then looking at the notes, and finally assembling the card while watching the video a second time.

Cut teal cardstock for the base card as shown in the video, 4 1/4 x 11 inches. Die cut teal for the arm - mark with Xs where shown. Cut the inside papers - see photos for the patterns I used; note: I used 4 x 5 5/16 inches instead of 4 x 5 1/4 inches to put the inside edges a little closer to the fold. Remember to only tack down the left side of the window sheet (inside left) as shown in the video. I used recycled plastic packaging for the window. For the front of the card, I cut the paper to 4 x 5 1/4 inches. You could adhere it to the front temporarily and try to cut through 3 layers but it probably won't cut all the way through. I recommend cutting two layers as in the video, removing the resulting cut squares (keep them), adhering the front patterned paper, then fitting the die into the hole to cut the front.

Cut frame, from diagonal teal striped side of paper, as shown in video. Keep squares that fall out of windows. I used the teal one for the rectangle that moves inside. For adhesive, Lineco in a fine tip bottle (shown in video) works very well; it creates a strong bond, and dries quickly.

4. For the sentiment, use the leftover inside square from the front of the card - the backside has light teal stripes. Use Stamp Platform to stamp "Happy Birthday" (Birthday 11) in VersaMark ink. Heat emboss with Gun Metal (note: I cut my stamp words apart; if you do not want to cut them, then you will have to mask them). Trim to fit on movable arm and adhere (I used removable tape to test before gluing down to make sure it wouldn't stick out of card when closed).

5. Using balloon from Birthday Charms, cut three from teal cardstock, one from yellow cardstock, and one from dark pink cardstock. Be sure to keep all holes! You will glue them back in and flatten with a Teflon bone folder (which flattens but won't make the paper shiny). Use white Gelly Roll to draw shine on balloon (you may use the stencil provided with the die). Note where each balloon goes on the card (the teal ones should all line up), cut twine for strings, adhere top of twine where it will be behind each balloon (if it helps mark with pencil first). Adhere balloons where shown, using dimensional tape to pop up dark pink balloon on front of card. Die cut small heart (Birthday Charms) from dark pink cardstock; adhere where shown, gluing front balloon strings together. Adhere sequins where shown (note: be sure sequins do not interfere with arm movement).

Supplies

• Dreamerland Crafts Stamps: Love My Puppy (D19006), Birthday 11 (DS18040)
• Karen Burniston in Cahoots with Riley and Company Dies: Spinner Square Pop-up (1042), Birthday Charms (1004)
• Doodlebug Design Sugar Shoppe 6x6 Pad
• Cardstock: Teal, Dark Pink, Yellow
• Stamp Platform
• Strathmore 500 Bristol Plate
• Memento Tuxedo Black Ink
• Black Copic Multiliner SP .3
• Faber-Castell Polychromos: 125, 129, 184, 186, 132, 189, 182, 180, 179, 176, 233, 234
• Kum Long Point Sharpener
• Lavender Spike Oil (Chelsea Classic Studio)
• Blending Stumps
• Recycled Plastic Packaging
• Lineco pH Neutral Adhesive
• Fine Tip Bottle
• VersaMark Ink
• Ranger Gunmetal Embossing Powder
• Heat Tool
• Teflon Bone Folder
• White Gelly Roll 05
• Dimensional Tape
• Twine: Dark Pink/Light Pink/White
• Sequins

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Jillibean Soup Birthday Explosion Card

Jillibean Soup (by Hampton Art) sent the Xyron Design Team a 12x12 collection pack, which included 12 doubled-sided sheets of paper (two of each pattern), 1 journaling card sheet, 1 die cut shape sheet, 4 washi sheets, and 1 sticker sheet - all coordinating. The collection I received was called You Make MISO Happy.

A friend's birthday is coming up in December so I decided to make her a birthday card with these cheery papers. Her favorite color is teal so I added that color family to the card. I also used reds, her birthday being so close to Christmas - there are some greens in there as well. I love the little calendar month labels included in the pack; one of the paper designs contains three sets of all the months - I chose the red one for this card and a teal heart to mark the date. The inside of the card is its own pop-up birthday party celebration - so fun!

Visit Jillibean Soup's Facebook page or click the link below to go to their blog.

Disclaimer: Please help support my work in this small way - just use my links if you plan to purchase anything - there's no extra cost to you. Here's the official jargon: links, affiliate links, and cookies may be used in this post and on this site. Using this site implies your consent. I participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, Share a Sale, and other affiliate programs; these affiliate advertising programs provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to amazon.com and/or other affiliated sites. This helps offset a small portion of my crafting addiction... uh, hobby. I am truly thankful for your kind support! I also receive free products from my design team companies, possibly monetary compensation, and sometimes free products for review. Regardless, all opinions are my own. Google and Blogger use cookies to provide and improve their services. See Notice at bottom of blog for a longer description and/or see the full Privacy Policy for even more details.

Making the Card

1. Cut red cardstock 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 inches; fold in half to form a 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 inch card base. Cut black cardstock 4 x 5 1/4 inches. In the collection pack (You Make MISO Happy), find the Tofu/dot sheet (JB2098); cut it to 3 7/8 x 5 1/8 inches. Set these aside for the moment.

2. Find the Green Card/calendar sheet (JB2093). Trim out the red December calendar label (or whatever month you would like). Cut red cardstock 1/8 inch bigger in each dimension (so there will be a 1/16 inch frame around calendar). Find the Miso Paste/red wavy sheet (JB2088); cut two 3 3/4 x 4 1/2 inch pieces from it, making sure the wavy orientation is going in the long direction (horizontally), and one piece 2 x 4 inches with the waves going across the short side - this piece will be vertical in the card, to be used for the pop up platform. Set these aside too.

3. From the die cut shape sheet, pop out the pink butterfly, pink flower in gray pot, yellow "happy", black and white "Shine On", blue standing bird, blue heart, blue dragon fly, blue flower with yellow center, blue flower in gray flower pot, and pink doily decoration. Set aside.

4. Using the banner/flag dies (Twist Panel Pop-up), die cut 1 each from red cardstock, 1 each from Tofu/dot sheet, and 1 each from Miso Paste/red wavy sheet. String on red/white twine. Hint: dab a little liquid glue on one end of the twine, twist tight, and let it dry before feeding through each flag. See photo for order of flags I used. Set aside.

5. Die cut two explosion wings (Explosion Pop-up) from red paper (you want thin paper for this if possible, due to all the folds). Fold as directed in video below. Set aside. Use the same set to die cut the pop up platform from the 2 x 4 inch Miso Paste/red wavy piece from step 2, leaving equal space above and below the die - these extra flaps will be used to glue the platform in the card. Trim off sides to be flush with die cut edges. Work folds of pop up platform. Set aside.

6. Now to add adhesive to all the pieces you set aside. Run all the large papers (but not the pop-up platform), yellow "happy", and pink doily decoration through the Xyron 9" Creative Station with permanent adhesive. Run pink butterfly, pink flower in gray pot, black and white "Shine On", blue heart, and blue dragon fly through 1.5" Sticker Maker. Hint: rub all over front of cellophane before peeling off; I use a die pick to go around edges as well. Also run a small piece of craft foam, enough to pop up the pink butterfly, through the sticker maker as well. Pull cellophane (only) off craft foam and adhere to back of pink butterfly, leaving the backing on the craft foam.

7. Adhere Tofu/dot sheet to black cardstock then adhere to front of card. Adhere calendar to red cardstock then adhere to front of card where shown. Adhere yellow "happy" where shown (leave off pink butterfly for now). Adhere "BIRTHDAY" using black letter stickers (hint: rub with teflon bone folder to get them to stick well). Adhere pink flower in gray pot where shown. Keep a scrap piece of backing paper for heart sticker. On the sticker sheet, find the teal heart. Adhere it to the piece of backing paper so you will have a handle for punching - it also keeps the piece from sticking when you punch. Use a pencil to mark the center of the heart. Use the lager hole on the Crop-a-Dile or 1/8 Inch Hole Punch to line up the center mark and punch. Adhere heart to calendar around birth date.

8. Adhere explosion wings inside card on either side, making sure nothing sticks out when folded (see video above). Orient two Miso Paste/red wavy pieces to how they will be in the card (I recommend first cutting these pieces away from other pieces and trimming the backing paper off close to the edges of the papers). Do the following with the bottom piece, then do the top piece: place inside card, use a pencil to mark corners where they overlap wing folds, trim corners with detail scissors, adhere in card making sure fold movements are not hindered.

9. To add the pop up platform (step 5) to the card, you will adhere one side, then the other. Use the top of platform (in photo above, the part that is behind the flower pot that extends and attaches to card) to make a pencil mark on the inside bottom of card from fold; this is the width at which it will be adhered so it will open properly. It should be around 1 1/8 inches unless your fold was off a bit. Use Mega Runner and/or Tape Runner to put adhesive on the reverse side of the bottom flap (not red wavy side) - this is the flap with the small platform cut into it; do not put adhesive on the small platform or anywhere else. Line up hole side with mark (the flap will be to the outside of the mark, not near the fold) and press down. Holding the platform completely shut, put adhesive on the top flap and carefully close card top pick up platform. The pop up platform should now function.

10. To adhere banners on twine, put a line of liquid glue adhesive (I recommend using a fineline tip bottle) across top of smallest explosion fold on one side - see photo where the twine is strung. I suggest placing card upside down on its front while doing this. Place one end of twine in glue and let dry. String other side and glue (you may want to stand banners up to give the twine a little support while drying). Trim ends and add a small drop of glue to ends so they won't fray. Adhere dot washi strip where shown on inside bottom of card. Die cut two heart balloons (Explosion Pop-up), one from red cardstock and one from Tofu/dot paper. While still in die, use die stencil and a white gel pen to add a highlight to balloons. Die cut two balloon strings from black cardstock, adhere balloons to strings. Note: when you adhere balloons in card, make sure they do not show when card is closed (this can be a little tricky - if in doubt, go a little lower). Adhere the rest of the decorative elements where shown (use Tape Runner to put adhesive on bird and flowers just where they touch the platform). Adhere pink butterfly where shown on front of card.

Supplies

• Xyron: 9" Creative Station, Permanent Adhesive, 1.5" Sticker Maker, Mega Runner, Tape Runner, Adhesive Remover
• Jillibean Soup You Make MISO Happy 12x12 Collection Pack
• Cardstock: Red, Black
• Red Paper
• Karen Burniston in Cahoots with Riley and Company: Explosion Pop-up (1069), Twist Panel Pop-up (1009)
• We R Memory Keepers Crop-a-Dile or 1/8 Inch Hole Punch
• Red/White Twine
• Craft Foam
• Die Pick
• Teflon Bone Folder
• Detail Scissors
• Liquid Glue
• Fineline Tip Bottle
• White Gel Pen

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Xyron & Graphic 45 Midnight Masquerade Halloween Pop-up Card

A Xyron and Graphic 45 collaboration makes this Halloween/Masquerade card super cool. Graphic 45 sent the Xyron design team a 12x12 pack of gorgeous papers plus a couple matching items. I chose Midnight Masquerade. Along with the 12x12 paper pack, I received the matching Journaling Chipboard and Tags & Pockets plus a packet of Artist Trading Tags. I absolutely love the color combination - it has a Mardi Gras feel to it. The hardest part was deciding which papers to leave out (I wanted to put them all in - both sides... one of these days I will have to make a mini-album out of the rest of these papers so I can show them all off). To make the card even more special, I added pop-up elements to it with Karen Burniston dies.

GIVEAWAY!! Two lucky winners will receive a Graphic 45 Christmas paper pack and a Xyron Mega Runner! To enter, just post a comment on any of the Graphic 45 projects on the Xyron Facebook page during this week (October 22-26, 2018).

Disclaimer: Please help support my work in this small way - just use my links if you plan to purchase anything - there's no extra cost to you. Here's the official jargon: links, affiliate links, and cookies may be used in this post and on this site. Using this site implies your consent. I participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, Share a Sale, and other affiliate programs; these affiliate advertising programs provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to amazon.com and/or other affiliated sites. This helps offset a small portion of my crafting addiction... uh, hobby. I am truly thankful for your kind support! I also receive free products from my design team companies, possibly monetary compensation, and sometimes free products for review. Regardless, all opinions are my own. Google and Blogger use cookies to provide and improve their services. See Notice at bottom of blog for a longer description and/or see the full Privacy Policy for even more details.

Making the Card

0. I recommend first reading through all the steps, cutting out papers as instructed, and watching the videos before putting anything together. Then follow the steps in order. This isn't a difficult card (the hardest part is probably folding the side explosion wings) - but there are a lot of pieces, which is what I think makes it look so cool!

1. Cut green-blue cardstock 7x10 inches; fold in half to form a 5x7 inch card base. Cut two pieces of medium purple paper 4 13/16 x  6 3/4 inches (to line the inside of the card). Set aside.

2. From the Midnight Masquerade 12x12 paper pack, find the pages with all the panels of images (Music Makers). I recommend cutting apart each design but you will only need two copies of the top right image (the guy in the cloak bowing to the lady). Cut dark purple cardstock 1/4 inch larger than one of these images such that 1/8 inch will show as a boarder. Using detail scissors, fussy cut both flower clusters and the man's cloak from the other piece. Use an ink blending tool to apply Rusty Hinge Distress Ink to the edges of the flowers and Peacock Feathers Distress Ink to cloak edges. Cut dark blue cardstock 4 1/2 x 6 1/2 inches. Find the page with the masks (Venetian Carnival) - the back will have a diamond pattern, this is the side we will use; cut to 4 1/4 x 6 1/4 inches and ink edges with Peacock Feathers. Find the page with the stamps and mask strip at the bottom (Savor the Magic). Cut all the elements apart but leave the dancers strip with the orange/diamond/orange patterned strips attached (if you accidentally cut them off, just adhere them together on the card as shown). For the card, you will use the strip of dancers, the small dark blue and cream design near the bottom of the page (it will end up above the dancers on the card), and three of the stamps (you can choose the three you like best or use the same ones I did). Ink edges of stamps with Dusty Concord Distress Ink. Trim strip of dancers and blue/cream border to 7 inches wide. Ink edges with Peacock Feathers. Set aside.

3. Using the Upsy Daisy Pop-up dies, die cut three dark blue scalloped squares and two dark purple arms. Watch the video below to see how to fold the arms - use liquid glue to only assemble the box areas of the arms. Don't put the rest together yet. It's best to watch the video below and the next (step 4) to see how this will all go together; the rest of the assembly will continue below - the order is important.

4. Using the Explosion Pop-up dies, die cut two wings from medium purple paper and fold as shown in the video below but do not assemble anything else yet. Also die cut the pop-up platform from dark purple cardstock, leaving about 1/2 inch above and below; trim sides flush. Note: I made mine out of recycled plastic packaging - it turned out OK but the card is difficult to keep closed and is bulkier than if I had used cardstock. I recommend using dark purple cardstock instead and adhering the center matted stamp near the bottom of the front platform instead of higher up as shown in my photos.

5. From Midnight Masquerade Tags & Pockets, punch out the pocket with the lady under the moon. Since we will be using the lady side, you may have to trim a little from the folding edges when assembling. Fold everything first to see how much you need to trim. Fold the back across, then fold the side flap in, gluing in place, then fold the bottom flap up, gluing in place. Using an ink blending tool, ink edges with Dusty Concord Distress Ink. Punch out the orange bordered tag with the woman's back to the viewer and "Midnight Masquerade" written above her head. Trim edges if necessary so it will slip easily in and out of pocket. Ink edges with Rusty Hinge Distress Ink. Next punch out the arrow with mask; ink each with Peacock Feathers.

6. Run the following through the Xyron 9" Creative Station with permanent adhesive: 2 pieces medium purple paper (step 1), panel image with man in cloak plus dark purple cardstock (step 2), dark blue cardstock plus diamond paper (step 2), 7 inch strips with dancers and blue/cream (step 2), three cut out stamps (step 2). Rub around all edges. You may want to trim the elements apart before removing backing papers. Note: be sure to flip papers over then peel backing away in order to keep papers from curling as much. If there is any extra adhesive around edges, use Adhesive Remover. Adhere medium purple papers inside card base, one on top and one on bottom, leaving a small gap for the fold. Adhere diamond patterned paper to dark blue paper. Adhere to center front of card base. Adhere blue/cream strip going across card, 2 inches from top. Adhere strip of dancers just below it. Adhere panel image with man in cloak to dark purple cardstock. Adhere to front of card where shown. Adhere stamps to dark blue scalloped squares. Leave off the rest of the elements for now.

7. Adhere explosion wings to sides of inside card as shown in video, lining up with purple liner edges. Cut two pieces of purple stars (Romantic Rendezvous) paper  4 7/16 x 6 inches. Use the stars side on the bottom and the other side for the top. Open card and lay the stars piece in the card just below the fold line, centered, then mark with pencil the angles of the explosion pop-up where they overlap; cut off just a slight bit more than marked. Flip the card around and do the same for the top piece using the side shown. Run these pieces through Xyron 9" Creative Station with permanent adhesive (be sure to have the correct sides facing up). Adhere in card, making sure that all folded areas are clear enough to fold unhindered.

8. Adhere center dark purple pop-up panel (you may want to trim the top and bottom - just keep enough to glue in card). Adhere side arms as in video, making sure they clear the pop-up. Adhere the matted stamps as shown. Die cut balloons shown, using a white gel pen to draw in the balloon shine before removing from die. Note: for the medium purple paper balloons, I cut two of each and glued them together for stability. Die cut strings for each balloon from dark purple cardstock. For the balloons that would be adhered only to their strings, I doubled the string thickness. I also cut a straight string by hand for the center purple balloon behind the center stamp. Adhere each where shown. I cut off the loop on the left orange balloon that is glued behind the stamp. I also popped up the two balloons on the top left by running craft foam through the 9" Creative Station with Permanent Adhesive twice, once on each side (removing cellophane in between) to apply adhesive on both sides - this creates dimensional tape.

9. Adhere Lilac, Swimming Pool sequins where shown. To place these I highly recommend the Crystal Tanto. While the inside elements dry, on a craft sheet, dye a length of seam binding with Dusty Concord Distress Ink (spray with water) and some twine with Peacock Feathers (I just used what was on the blending tool foam, rolling it as I went along the string).

10. Use Mega Runner on back of pocket to adhere it to card where shown. Use a hole punch or Crop-A-Dile to punch a hole at the top of the orange tag (where the flower is, just a bit low on it). Tie ribbon and twine around hole. Put tag in pocket. Use the dimensional tape created in step 8 to adhere flower and cloak over the ones on front of card. Use dimensional tape to adhere mask arrow where shown. Add square flower from Journaling Chipboard in upper right corner (or just add another sequin). Add Lilac, Swimming Pool sequins going from bottom left to top right. Optional: Add clear Wink of Stella where desired on cover and inside (e.g. cloak, flowers, masks). See photo above (may have to click on it to see the shine). Optional: if the card feels too front heavy, cut dark blue cardstock and patterned paper (same size as those used for front of card), run through 9" Creative Station with permanent adhesive, and adhere to back of card; this should help the balance.

Supplies

• Xyron: 9" Creative Station, Permanent Adhesive, Mega Runner, Adhesive Remover
• Graphic 45 Midnight Masquerade: 12x12 Paper Pad, Journaling Chipboard, Tags & Pockets
• Cardstock: Green-Blue, Dark Blue, Dark Purple, Peach
• Paper: Medium Purple
• Karen Burniston in Cahoots with Riley and Company Dies: Upsy Daisy Pop-up (1047), Explosion Pop-up (1069)
• Detail Scissors
• Liquid Glue
• Fine Tip Bottle
• Ink Blending Tool; Blending Foam
• Distress Ink: Dusty Concord, Rusty Hinge, Peacock Feathers
• White Gel Pen
• Craft Foam
• Crop-a-Dile or Hole Punch
• Sequins: Lilac, Swimming Pool
• Crystal Tanto
• Craft Sheet
• White Seam Binding
• Blue Twine
• Clear Wink of Stealla
• Not Recommended: Plastic Packaging (I used this in my card but instead recommend dark purple cardstock for less bulk)

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Beach Birthday Card with Xyron & Paper House

This project is a collaboration between Xyron and Paper House. The Xyron Design Team members were each sent a pad of 12x12 paper (including stickers!) plus a couple rolls of washi tape from Paper House. I chose the Sun Drenched pad because it is so colorful, and I'm dreaming of summer (hoping for warm weather soon)!

When I saw the pad of paper, I had the perfect dies in mind: Karen Burniston recently released the Palm Tree Pop-up as well as some other ocean themed dies. I love how fun this card is!

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Making the Card

1. Cut dark brown cardstock 7 x 10 inches; fold in half to form a 5 x 7 inch top folding card. Cut black cardstock 4 1/2 x 6 1/2 inches. Cut 2 3/4 inches off bottom of sunset patterned paper (Sun Drenched, Paper House) then cut 4 1/4 x 6 1/4 inches horizontally from left bottom corner.

2. To create palm tree/hill silhouette, die cut black cardstock with palm tree hill top die (Tropical Scene dies) with about 3/4" from the bottom, on the left (i.e. enough to cover the island printed on the patterned paper). Extend the cut with the hills die without trees (hint: I used a black fine tipped Sharpie to mark where the blade is located to make it easier to line up). Use scissors if it doesn't cut perfectly. From black cardstock, also cut the tops of 3 palm trees. Trim middle section in a V to make birds; trim one smaller by cutting off part of the "wings."

3. Die cut Happy Birthday from white glitter cardstock. Carefully cut words apart following the curve of the letters.

4. Put all pieces (but not card base!) into Creative Station with permanent adhesive. Rub around all pieces before pulling off cellophane - I recommend cutting the pieces apart first. When removing, pull the backing sheet away from cardstock/paper to keep them from bending. Adhere black cardstock to card base, then sunset patterned paper, then black silhouette hill and palm trees (over the one pictured on the sunset paper). Add a strip of shell washi tape to the bottom as shown. Optional: add stickers shells (Sun Drenched, Paper House) where shown.

Cut pieces apart; pull backing away from cardstock/paper to avoid bending

5. Put birds into 1.5" Create-a-Sticker; rub around edges of birds. Color "Happy" and "Birthday" with alcohol markers (see Supplies for a list of markers I used). Gently blend with colorless blender (note: if you rub too much, the alcohol may dissolve the glue, depending on the glitter cardstock used). Adhere "Happy" to card where shown (save "Birthday" for inside of card). Adhere birds to card where shown (see final image).

6. For the inside of the card, first cut the pieces of paper to line the inside. Reinforce the paper by lining it with black cardstock such that the black will form a border around the card, excluding the inside fold area. To do this, find the sand image paper (Sun Drenched, Paper House) with the wave/sea foam at the top. Trim the right side of the piece 6 1/2 inches from the right edge. Trim up from the bottom (i.e. the side without wave) 4 3/4 inches. Repeat from the bottom of the larger piece 4 3/4 inches, trimming off most of the wave. You should have two pieces 4 3/4 x 6 1/2 inches. Cut two pieces of black cardstock 6 3/4 x 4 7/8 inches (hint: if you have a piece of 8 1/2 x 11 inch cardstock, first cut 6 3/4 inches down the length of the paper - so you have a long piece - then cut two pieces from that at 4 7/8 inches each). Put the sand pieces (not the black) through the Xyron Creative Station with permanent adhesive. Attach each to a piece of black cardstock such that the long edge matches up with one of the long sides on the black - this will eventually be towards the fold; for the piece with the wave on the corner, match the opposite side to the black edge. See photo below - the edge towards the fold is flush with the black (sorry it is difficult to see - there is no black between the fold and the sand edge). Important: do not run black pieces through Xyron or attach to card yet! Trim a very small amount (< 1/16 inch) from the edges without the borders in order to accommodate the fold.

Adhere sand pieces to black but do not adhere the black yet; they will first be placed only temporarily inside the card.

7. Find the paper with the water and yellow-green sky (Sun Drenched, Paper House). Cut 6 1/2 inches from the right side. Use wave die (Tropical Scene) to cut across the light wave area (I angled the die to match the light area) - the stitched line will be towards the bottom of the page. You will need to extend the cut like you did with the palm tree hill by marking the die (black fine tipped Sharpie) and continuing to cut along the light area (use scissors if it doesn't cut perfectly). Once you have the wave piece, cut off about 2 1/2 inches from the bottom on the right side, leaving 1 1/2 or so inches measuring from the bottom to the wave on the right side; set aside for a moment. Next, cut about 3 inches off the leftover sand piece (by about 5 1/2 inches wide). Cut black cardstock the same size or a little larger. Put the wave and the sand into the Xyron Creative Station. Adhere the sand to black cardstock (you will cut the palm tree bases from this); adhere the wave to the bottom of the piece from step 6, covering the printed wave, so it lines up with the the edges.

Wave piece going into Xyron. Sand piece adhered to black cardstock; palm tree base die pictured, ready to die cut

8. Watch the following assembly video but don't assemble yet. Cut the pieces as described below the video then watch it again while you assemble. Use the Xyron Mega Runner to secure the die cut sand/black border pieces in the card as shown in video; use the Xyron 1.5" Create-a-Sticker for adhesive on coconuts and turtle shell pieces.

Using the Palm Tree Pop-up and Sea Animals dies, die cut the following then shade (described in steps below):

• Light brown cardstock: cut 2 sets of pop up tree trunks, 2 smaller tree trunks, 1 turtle shell
• Dark brown cardstock: cut 3 sets of coconuts (9 total), 1 turtle shell detail
• Green cardstock: 2 sets of large tree tops, 2 small tree tops, 1 turtle
• Salmon cardstock: 1 crab
• Black cardstock: 1 oval piece for behind crab's eyes
• Sand with black cardstock backing (from step 7): 2 tree bases (strips with 4 holes)

Use blending tool and Walnut Stain Distress Ink to shade and stencil (using dies) palm tree trunks. Use Twisted Citron Distress Oxide ink to add highlights to palm tree fronds. Note: Use the Xyron Adhesive Eraser on any extra adhesive, such as removable tape residue used to hold the pieces in place or any stuck around the edges of cardstock or paper.

9. Once you have assembled the card as described in the video (minus hammock), add the extra tree as shown. Adhere coconuts as you like. Glue black oval behind crab's eyes and use Black Copic Multiliner .5 to draw through crab die as a stencil for the mouth. Add shading with Barn Door Distress Ink (I applied it with a blending tool). Adhere where shown.

10. Use Bundled Sage Distress Ink to shade turtle body and Walnut Stain to shade main turtle shell. Use Black Copic Multiliner .5 to draw through turtle body die for eyes. Assemble turtle and adhere where shown. Adhere "WARM" "Birthday" and "WISHES" where shown, using stickers from Sun Drenched, Paper House for "WARM" and "WISHES".

Supplies

• Xyron: 9" Creative Station, Permanent Adhesive, Mega Runner, 1.5" Create-a-Sticker, Adhesive Eraser
• Paper House 12x12 Pad: Sun Drenched (PP-0081)
• Paper House Washi Tape: Beach
• Karen Burniston in Cahoots with Riley and Company Dies: Tropical Scene (1038), Happy Birthday (1030), Palm Tree Pop-up (1039), Sea Animals (1037), Tiny Accessories 1 (1025)
• Cardstock: Dark Brown, Light Brown, Black, Green, Salmon
• Glitter Cardstock: White (Preferably Warm Tone)
• First Edition Art Graphic Markers: Lemon, Sunset, Coral, Rouge (Alternatively Copic Markers, or Spectrum Noir Markers)
• Copic Colorless Blender
• Distress Ink: Walnut Stain, Barn Door, Bundled Sage
• Distress Oxide Ink: Twisted Citron
• Blending Tool
• Black Copic Multiliner .5

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