Sometimes when you have a very sore throat you just have to go with the flow… Like right now as I am fighting off a cold kindly given to me by my hubby. It’s my granddaughters’ first birthday today and twins were definitely on my mind. In fact this project is a collaboration with some additional input from my daughter, the twins’ Mummy. So with the cuddling koalas from the Count On Me Stamp Set and the Forever Fern and Forever Flourishing Dies close at hand, I set to work.

COUNT ON ME FIRST

I began this project with the cute koalas from the Count On Me Stamp Set. Using Basic Gray ink I stamped them onto a scrap of Very Vanilla Card. Then using a Blending Brush I added a touch of Basic Gray ink to colour the image. Finally I cut out the koalas using Paper Snips and set them aside.

When it came to the sentiment I actually asked my daughter which was her favourite. She chose “we can make it through anything if we do it together”. I thought this was perfect too. So using Basic Gray ink again I stamped the sentiment onto a 5/8″ x 3-5/8″ strip of Very Vanilla Card.

As a contrast I cut a 7/8″ x 3-3/4″ strip of Old Olive Card. Then using Multipurpose Liquid Glue (Tombow) I mounted the sentiment onto is lining up the right-hand ends. With that done I put the sentiment aside with the koalas while I worked on the rest of the card.

FOREVER FLOURISHING SURPRISE

Now I wanted some leafy images to use behind the koalas and I found them in the Forever Fern Stamp Set. In fact I discovered a number of leafy images in the stamp case already stamped using Old Olive ink. They’d also been cut out using the coordinating Forever Flourishing Dies, so that made finishing the project really easy.

First I used liquid glue to attach the two leafy pieces to a 4″ x 5-1/4″ layer of Very Vanilla Card. Then using Stampin’ Dimensionals I added the sentiment overlapping the stems. The koalas came next, attached with Stampin’ Dimensionals, overlapping the top edge of the sentiment so they appeared to be sitting on it. Finally I finished off the layer by adding some Mint Macaron embellishments from the Genial Gems pack.

Using my Paper Trimmer I cut and scored some Old Olive Card. Then I folded it along the scored line and sharpened the crease with a Bone Folder to create the card base. Finally I added the assembled layer to the front.

That just left the inside and envelope to do and for that I went back to the Forever Fern Stamp Set.

First, using Old Olive ink and the same leafy image as on the card front I stamped over the flap of a Very Vanilla Medium Envelope. Then I took a 4″ x 5-1/4″ piece of Very Vanilla Card and covered all but a 3/4″ strip along the bottom edge with scrap paper. With the rest of the piece protected I stamped the leafy image over the visible strip. Once that was done I removed the scrap paper and glued a 1/8″ strip of Old Olive Card along the top edge of the stamped area. Finally I glued the layer inside the card base and my koala card was complete.

It was only after I’d finished that I realised I could have created a similar card without actually using the Forever Flourishing Dies. However I do like the subtle dimension created by adding these as separate card pieces. What do you think?

PRODUCT LIST

The Forever Flourishing Dies is just one of the dies and embossing folders that are compatible with the Mini Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine. The Mini machine (and selected compatible stamp set/dies bundles) are available at 20% off until March 31st (while stocks last). Check out the Savings Are In Bloom section of my online store for more details.