Thanks a TON ☆ CottageCutz

Hi there crafty friends!

As promised in Saturday's post, I'm back with a tutorial for a Vertical Easel Card with Floating Shaker! Today's is the same style card, but with a different theme. I realized this weekend that I don't have enough "Thank You" cards, so I used the CottageCutz Festive Elephant from the Christmas 1 Release (which are all 30% off right now!)... I simply left off his Santa hat and tree and added a heart ♥ I also used the Thanks w/Shadow die, and then I spelled out "a ton" on the far right strip that holds the easel in place using the Stitched Alphabet die. A few other dies are listed in my tutorial (and shown at the end of my post).

Before I get to the tutorial, I'll share a few more project photos so you get a good idea of what we're making today!

-Here's the front in closed position-

-Inside-

-View from the top as it is standing in easel position-

Trust me - this is so EASY to make, you don't even need a video! If you've ever made an easel card, this is basically an easel turned on it's side... except that instead of your focal image on the front being glued to half your card front, there is a li'l mechanism that makes it pop forward when the card is in easel position. ☺ And I stepped it up by making my focal image a shaker! (If you want to keep your card more flat, you can simply made a flat focal image piece.)

- Here's How I Made It -

BLACK CARDSTOCK:

(Card Base) Cut at 5-1/2" x 8-1/2"

- score at 2-1/8" and 4-1/4" (along 8-1/2" side)

PINK CARDSTOCK:

(Front Mats) Cut 2 Panels at 5 1/4" x 1 7/8"

(Inside Mat) Cut 1 Panel 5 1/4" x 2 1/2"

(Inside Mat) Cut 1 Panel 5 1/4" x 1 3/8"

(Focal Mechanism) Cut at 3" x 1-1/2"

- score at 1/2", 1", 2" & 2-1/2"

PATTERNED PAPER (Floral):

(Front) Cut 2 Panels at 5 1/8 x 1 3/4

(Inside) Cut 1 Panel at 5 1/8 x 2 3/8

PATTERNED PAPER (Polka-Dot):

(Inside Edge) Cut 1 Panel at 5 1/8 x 1 1/4

- DESIGN STEPS -

• Attach your patterned papers to the pink mats.

• Fold your mechanism so that the outside scores are mountain folds & inside scores are valley folds.

• Mechanism: Add strong adhesive to the bottom of your 2 outside flaps and attach them right up to the score line of your card front. See photo below. It helps to attach one side first, then the other.

• Attach your front panels over the glued flaps of mechanism but under the top part as shown.

• Add foam strips (or dimensionals/pop dots) to the back side of your thin polka-dot panel and attach INSIDE your card, near the edge.

• Attach your larger panel (not popped up) to the side of it, leaving equal black border all around.

• Since the base is black, I added a white panel to the INSIDE far left (backside of card front) for writing a message. That measures 5-1/4" x 1-7/8" - OR you could cut a larger white panel for the way back of your card cut at 5-1/4" x 4"

Our Card Base is DONE! Easy peasy, right?!

Now let's make the shaker!

BLACK CARDSTOCK:

• Die cut a frame by nesting the largest from the Nested Stitched Scalloped Circle set and the 3rd largest die from the Pierced Circle set as shown...

*Note: this photo is not exactly correct, but my instructions are! The photo shows that I first cut with the 4th largest die, but then I went back and cut it again with the 3rd largest and forgot to take a photo.

WHITE CARDSTOCK:

• Die cut a frame by nesting the 2nd & 4th largest dies from the Pierced Circle set

• Glue your white frame onto the black scalloped frame, making sure to center it so there's equal border showing. (Mine is not centered as it's not glued down yet in this photo.)

PATTERNED PAPER & ACETATE:

• Die cut a circle using the 2nd largest from the Pierced Circle set

• Glue your acetate circle to the BACK of your scalloped frame.

• Add foam strips/tape on top of acetate, being careful it doesn't show from the front.

*TIP #1: if you remove the backing from your foam tape first, it makes it much easier to bend around curves like this.

*TIP #2: if you rub both sides of your acetate with a used dryer sheet, it will remove the static from it so your sequins don't stick to it!

• Add your shaker elements to the well as shown below.

*TIP #3: If you glue a few of your sequins to the patterned paper, when your card is standing up and all the rest of the elements fall to the bottom, it will still look pretty! (at least until they get shaken off! LOL)

• Turn your patterned paper circle upside down and place centered onto the shaker.

• Add Scor Tape or other strong adhesive/glue to the tab mechanism on card front and attach your shaker!

• Die cut and color/assemble your CottageCutz Festive Elephant. (The heart is left over from die cutting the Whimsical Hearts Slimline Die for another project, so use any CC heart die you have)

• Die cut "a" and "ton" from the Stitched Alphabet die from PINK & BLACK cardstock, then offset them and glue together.

• Die cut Thanks w/ Shadow die from GREY & PINK cardstock and glue together.