JOYFUL POINSETTIA

Do you love gatefold cards? If you're like me, you adore the look of them. Rather than opening traditionally like a "nornal" card, a gatefold card opens from the center. I think this type of card is extra striking especially if you have a focal point as gorgeous as this poinsettia.

I then like to add the sentiment to a tag that opens from the opposite gate than the poinsettia.

I got the idea to use this beautiful retired poinsettia stamp as the focal point for my card when I came across, while sifting through my Designer Series Papers stash, this scrumptious flocked design with poinsettias and their leaves. 

Unfortunately, this DSP is no longer available, however, I just want to remind you to keep your eyes peeled for new additions to the Clearance Rack, as happened this week. That's where I manage to find a LOT of wonderful buys, things that are retired that I really don't NEED, but they are great to have for future projects.

After stamping the poinsettia and a trio of the leaves with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink, I proceeded to color it with Stampin' Blends. Then, of course, I fussy cut the components. 

One other thing that I'd done with this flower in the past is to stamp and color certain portions of the flower a few times. Cutting out petals here and there, then adding them to the main flower with Stampin' Dimensionals, you can create a lovely three-dimensional flower. Very easy to do, just a little more time consuming.

Following is a tutorial to create a card similar to this. If you don't have the exact materials I used, there are many other products that you could substitute to come up with an equally wonderful card.

SUPPLIES:

White cardstock

Flocked Designer Series Paper

Joyful Christmas stamp set (retired <sigh>)

Memento Tuxedo Black ink

Stampin' Blends in Light and Dark Poppy Parade, Light and Dark Just Jade and Dark Daffodil Delight

Die Cutting/Embossing Machine

All That Dies set, page 162, Annual Catalog

Deckled Circles Dies set, page 63, retiring Mini Catalog

Holiday Rhinestones or any other coordinating gems

DIRECTIONS:

Cut a piece of white cardstock in half, to 5 1/2" x 8 1/2". With the Simply Scored, score it at 2 1/8". Flip the piece around, and score again at 2 1/8". Fold on the score lines. You should get a gatefold that meets nicely in the center. Reinforce the scores with a bone folder.

From flocked Designer Series Paper, cut two pieces that measure 1 7/8" x 5 1/4". Another option, if you don't have this flocked paper, is to use white cardstock that you have embossed.

Adhere these pieces to both of the gates, being sure they line up nicely.

Stamp in Memento Tuxedo Black ink the poinsettia, as well as the leaves. Color these as you wish.

Fussy cut the poinsettia components. Put the flower together as you wish.

From white cardstock, die cut a circle that measures 2 3/4" across using the Deckled Circles dies. Adhere the poinsettia to this circle. Put adhesive only on the left side of the circle and add it to the left gate so the point of the flower reaches the top of the DSP; then there is room for the sentiment.

From white cardstock, die cut a label using the die from All That Dies that is a rectangle measuring 1 1/2" x 2 1/2". In black ink, stamp your sentiment. The poinsettia and the sentiment came from the retired Joyful Christmas set.

Putting adhesive ONLY on the right side of the sentiment label, glue this to the right gate.

Add a trio of matching gems around the sentiment.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Christmas will always be 

as long as we stand heart to heart and hand in hand.

- Dr. Suess -

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Joyful

Smiles.