Grungy Gatefold Birthday Card

For the past week I have been feeling particularly low on creative energy. You know...the times you sit at your desk, look at all your stuff and then just have no clue what to do with it all? Today, I wanted to make a birthday card for my brother, but didn't know where to start. That's when I reached for a Technique Junkie CD! It never fails - I always find something cool to spark my creativity. This time it was the Fancy Gatefold card from the 3D and Fun Folds CD. One of my all-time faves!

My card is quite a departure from the tutorial. There are supposed to be three panels across the front. My first thought was that I was going to split the Umbrella man into three pieces - his head and feet would go one way when you opened the card, the torso would go the other way. I decided I really wanted him in one piece. Plus, I loved the look of the idea-ology Kraft Resist paper and really didn't want to cover it up! On the left side I used the new Sizzix Cargo Stencil Numbers dies to cut out his birthday number (I can't believe he's going to be 32! He's the baby!). Behind the cutouts, I added sanded Kraft Core'dinations paper.

Here is my guy! I cut him from chipboard and painted him with a Pitch Black Dabber and then sanded here and there. The Harlequin Border was a scrap that I had lying on my desk. My hubby came up with the idea of using the closure from the Sizzix Pocket Envelope die. He's very proud of his contribution. :)

Here is the card opened - how awesome is that fold?! I can imagine all kinds of ideas now.  The center section was embossed using the Harlequin Texture Fade  and the oval Embossing Diffuser. I love the look of just that section being embossed. When I was opening and closing the card, I thought it would look really cool with a little banner that would unfurl when you opened it (I have a sneaky feeling that the idea was planted by Karen Burniston's card(s) on the Sizzix blog). I created one using the Sizzix Pennants On the Edge die and idea-ology letters and strung it with some twine.

I totally love how my card came out and can't recommend this Technique Junkie CD enough! It's such a great resource when your muse seems to have taken a little vacation.  Click here for a full list of the techniques - there are lots!

Inspiration Emporium carries all the supplies I used for my card - AND you can pre-order the new Distress inks! Don't forget to use my coupon code - stamptramp - to save 10% off your order!

Summer Seasonal Distress Ink	Fairytale Frenzy	Stampers Anonymous Steampunk	Shabby French Stamp Collection	Air Travel
Bitty Grunge	Mini Muse	Sizzix Cargo Stencil Number Set	Sizzix Umbrella Man	Sizzix Harlequin & Stripes
Sizzix Pennants Die	Sizzix Pocket Envelope Die	Sizzix Embossing Diffuser	Sizzix Little Sizzles Kraft Core	Sizzix Harlequin Border
Barn Door Distress Ink	Black Soot Distress Ink	Ranger Fall Limited Edition Distress Ink	Idea-ology Kraft Resist	Vagabond
Idea-ology Long Fasteners	Idea-ology Tiny Fasteners	Idea-ology Alpha Parts	Inkssentials Blending Tool	Idea-ology Sanding Grip
Ranger Dabber - Pitch Black

InLinkz.com

I have one more cool thing to share with you. A couple months ago, I was asked to be the guest artist for a Canadian scrapbooking blog called Art du Scrapbooking. Each of their DT members chose one or two of my cards to 'lift'. Their creations are amazing! I love seeing how other interpret my ideas.

Speaking of cool creations, I'm submitting this to the Simon Says Stamp and Show Anything Goes challenge. Make sure you visit to see all the gorgeous artwork that's been posted!