Pop it Ups

Pop it Ups Karen Burniston Designer Challenge – Celebrate!

September 16, 2015

Hi, it’s Karen Burniston with the September Pop it Ups Designer Challenge. Each month I challenge my Designer Challenge team to use Pop it Ups dies for a specific theme. This month the theme is to interpret the word “Celebrate!” for any holiday, any theme. As a twist to the challenge I also asked them to incorporate frames and/or Frame Edges into their projects. We’re also excited to welcome Sandy Diller to the team officially. Sandy has been joining the challenges most months as a guest designer and I am thrilled to introduce her as the newest member of the Designer Challenge Team.

For my card and video I wanted to do a simple assembly video for two of my new Fall Release dies shipping at the end of October 2015 to independent craft stores worldwide. Why do we show the dies so early? In this case it was because we wanted the retailers last week at The Collins Rep Group Retailer Training Event to have the opportunity to try the dies and place orders. Retailers who did not attend the show can also get their orders in now, so mention it to your local store if you’re interested.

This is the newest Accordion die in the Pop it Ups line – the Gift Card Accordion. The Accordion page cuts slots to hold a standard size gift card perfectly. This die is going to be perfect for any occasion to give gift cards, but also for cards without gift cards, especially by incorporating the new Flourish Gift Frame companion die that includes rectangles to fit the album and cover the tuck slots. My card is a birthday card using colors pulled from the gift card I was using.

GCA_open

Here is the video tutorial for this project.

The video mentions a tip for flipping the first page over if you’d rather have the decorative score lines on the front of the album. As it turned out, I ended up cutting patterned paper frames for the front and the back instead.

GCAfront

The video shows how to use the small stitched rectangle that comes included with the Gift Card Accordion to make a long stitched rectangle to span the entire page. The video also shows a cute idea for shrinking the “a gift for you” die using shrink plastic to make it a charm. I used the new Elizabeth Craft Designs Soft Finish cardstock for the majority of the album and accented with patterned paper.

GCAback

Elizabeth Craft Designs Supply List

Other Supplies:

  • Graphic 45 Patterned Paper
  • Shrink Plastic
  • Jump ring and colored book ring
  • Orange & Purple inks plus blending tools
  • Coordinating ribbon

 

DESIGNER CHALLENGE TEAM

Time to see how the talented team interpreted this month’s “Celebrate + Frame Edges” challenge. For each project, there are more photos, supply lists, sometimes even a full step-by-step tutorial, on the designer’s blog. Click their name to go directly to that blog post. Don’t worry, all the links open in new windows so you won’t lose this original post by clicking the names. In fact, I encourage you to click the names as you scroll through, opening windows for the project blog posts you’d like to visit.

Tent Cards:

Back in July Frances Byrne posted a tutorial on the Elizabeth Craft Designs blog for using Accordion Albums as a base for a tent card. That idea sparked many variations by the team and they’ve been making amazing tent cards ever since.

Frances Byrne starts things off with a tent card where she used a modification by Karen Aicken for leaving the center of the Oval Accordion attached, rather than removed with an item swinging in the middle. This adorable baby card features a glittered Snowball the Sheep and the Oval Dots Frame Edges. She also incorporated a Quietfire word die, Peel-off Stickers and the Els van de Burgt Studio “it’s a Girl” die.

FB_SheepBabyTent2wm

Donna Wright took the tent card idea and turned it on its side and added more pleats across the bottom to make this amazing diorama tent card using the new Flourish Gift Frame, Holiday House, Outdoor Edges and Evergreen Pivot card trees. This card got a lot of attention on Facebook this week – so gorgeous!

DW_ sept 2015 edges christmas

Shelly Hickox combined the original tent card tutorial with the extra pleats idea and made this spooky Halloween version, using the Oval Accordion and Oval Flourish Frame Edges. The patterned paper was fussy cut to create all the imagery – love it!

SH_shelly hickox graphic 45 pop it ups halloween card

Gift Card Accordions:

The team received their dies just last week, so the projects they were able to churn out in such a short amount of time are amazing! Bookmark these ideas for when the dies are available.

Sandy Diller made this absolutely fabulous 3-page Gift Card Accordion using the companion Flourish Gift Frame and three Characters – Chilly, Rudy and Jolly. She also used Props 5 (Santa Hat), the lights from the Holiday House, and the present from the Evergreen Pivot Card.

SD_HoHoHo

Summer Hills-Painter also created a 3-page Gift Card Accordion, this one to celebrate a new home. She used a Home Depot gift card and decorated with the House Pivot Card’s house, All Seasons Tree, and the apples from the new Props 7 woven basket die set. What a lovely gift for a new homeowner!

SHP_Sept DC 2015 2 Open

Shelly Hickox keeps the 3-page Gift Card Accordion trend going with this lovely Christmas album. Notice that her album does not feature a gift card. By using the companion Flourish Gift Frame set, the rectangle dies can be used to cover the tuck slots and turn the die into a standard Accordion suitable for any theme.

SH_shelly hickox xmas accordion card

Fran Sabad created a 2-page Gift Card Accordion with Flourish Gift Frame and the Sleigh used flat on the first page. How lively are these Christmas colors? I love the use of navy and red together!

FS_PIU-GCH-Accodion-01

Kelly Booth used the Gift Card Accordion for a 2-page gift for a bride. She styled the new Lucky the Rabbit Character die as a bride and gave her a bouquet and a cute heart-shaped nose. I love the use of the Quietfire word die along the top of the album.

KB_Watermarked Photo (2015-09-11-1207)

Caz Counsell also made a 2-page Gift Card Accordion and also used Lucky the Rabbit but in completely different colors for a completely different look. Caz got clever with the new Props 7 woven basket die, turning it upside-down and decorating as a cake.

CC_bunny challenge 2

Accordions with Frame Edges:

Because the challenge included the use of Frames and Frame Edges, many of the team chose to make Accordion albums.

Summer Hills-Painter mixed all three styles of portrait albums for this fun black and white congratulations card. She used Brownie the Cow and the Farm Greetings Clear Stamps, plus the Flourish Frame Edges for both the Katie and the Oval.

SHP_September challenge 2015

Karen Aicken celebrates Family with this stunning 6-page Circle Accordion featuring the Square w/Circle Frame Edges (check out the rivets using glitter dots!) and her hand drawn lettering to spell out Family. Gorgeous!

KA_Card_PIU_Accord_Family_1

Helen Cryer has twin nieces who just turned 2. She made them each a very special accordion birthday card. First up is Hattie’s card, featuring the Katie Label Accordion and Katie Stars Frame Edges. She used the new Lucky the Rabbit, Whiskers the Cat and Hoppy the Frog, plus Props 2 and the Happy Birthday die. Hattie’s name is the Elizabeth Craft Designs Alphabet Caps die. What fun colors for a little girl’s card!

HC_DSC_0549

Helen Cryer made Viv’s card very different from Hattie’s but equally gorgeous. She used the Circle Accordion with the flourish Frame Edge and the candles from the Gift Card Accordion and Celebrate from the Flourish Gift Frame. So soft and pretty!

HC_DSC_0517 (3)

Kelly Booth made this aloha birthday card using the Oval Accordion, Oval Clouds Frame Edges, Props 2 and the Happy Birthday die. What a cool idea to use the Props 2 birthday hat on a stamped image!

KB_Watermarked Photo 1 (2015-09-14-0632)

Raquel Mason took advantage of the baby-themed peel-off stickers designed by Joset van de Burgt to fit the Star and Circle Accordions. Raquel’s mixed accordion features Frame Edges and glittered/colored peel-offs. She made it for a co-worker.

RM_KBDC Sept Celebrate Baby 5

Frances Byrne made an open center accordion using the Katie Label Accordion plus Katie Stars Frame Edges. Poppy the Owl, wearing Props 2 hat, perches on either end of the album, checking out the glittered peel-off presents inside. I just love this color scheme!

FB_OwlOpenCentreAccordwm

Fran Sabad made a shaker page out of the Rectangle Accordion and used dark Katie Stars Frame Edges to keep with the spooky look. Her coloring on the little vampire stamp is amazing!

FS_Haunt-Ya-Later-05-open

Raquel Mason made a very special card for her son’s 9th birthday. She used the Fancy Label Accordion with the Star Fancy Frame Edges and Buster the Dog and Whiskers the Cat. I love the idea of using just the head of the cat on the center page to leave room for the greeting.

RM_KBDC Sept Celebrate Buster-Whiskers 2

Karen Aicken combined the Ring Accordion with Ring Frame Edges 1, Jolly the Mouse and the Merry & Bright Clear Stamps for this fun 3-page Christmas album. Such an excellent color combination on this card!

KA_Card_PIU_Accord_RingJolly_3

Caz Counsell also used Jolly the Mouse on her accordion – this one using the Circle Accordion and dots Frame Edges. Check out her little swiss cheese banner! Squee! So cute!

CC_challenge card sept 2

Everything Else:

Here are some unique projects using Frame Edges without their companion Accordion albums.

Karen Aicken shows brilliantly how well Frame Edges work as flat frames. She combined the solid and dots Square w/Circle Frame Edges to make a dynamic front to a peek-a-boo card.

KA_Card_PIU_HBDFrameEdges_1

Donna Wright made a fun easel card using a Stand up Helper die and the pieces of the Ring Accordion plus Ring Frame Edges 1. She embellished her easel card with Whiskers the Cat and the Happy Birthday dies. Notice Donna’s signature mini clothespin. Love that little touch she always puts on her cards.

DW_sept 2015 edges pink cat copy

Sandy Diller used the new Christmas Trees Pop Stand die to make this lovely card and use the Ring Frame Edges 1 as her tree skirt. She also used the Square w/Circle Frame Edges on the front of the card. Just gorgeous!

SD_tree inside 3

Kelly Booth used the Ring Frame Edges 1 on this Spiral Circle Pull Card to frame her greeting. What a simple touch but so effective. I like her floating balloons on the spiral.

KB_Watermarked Photo 1 (2015-09-13-0934)

Sandy Diller finishes the challenge with a stunning explosion box with suspended Oval Flourish Frame Edges plus floating Christmas Trees inside. WOW! She also posted a full tutorial for how she created it, so definitely click over to her blog to see it.

SD_tree2

Well I hope you feel inspired to make someone a special card to celebrate. We’ll be back next month on October 14, 2015 with the next Designer Challenge called Characters in Costume. This is not limited to Halloween cards (although those are acceptable). The Designers will be using any of the 17 Characters and dressing them/converting them into a new look.

Happy Crafting!

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  • Cynthia L October 20, 2015 at 11:12 am

    I love all the dies, and the cards. You have wonderful ideas!

  • Lisa Giedt October 19, 2015 at 11:08 pm

    You make everything so easy and quick with your dies. Amazing creations in no time at all. Keep coming up with beautiful ideas for your dies that make the rest of us look so good.

  • Sandy H October 19, 2015 at 8:47 pm

    Amazing cards. Great ideas.

  • Diane Prince October 18, 2015 at 10:10 am

    This is so great, really need this die 🙂

  • DJ wankel October 17, 2015 at 9:49 pm

    Love this new gift card die and all the teams ideas

  • Chiara October 17, 2015 at 2:35 pm

    Love these new dies… I’ll have both soon in my collection

  • Angela October 17, 2015 at 12:43 pm

    You and your team are INCREDIBLE!!!! I love the ‘string cheese’! LOL Thank you all for sharing!

  • Barbara Woodard October 17, 2015 at 12:23 pm

    The new gift card die is perfect for this time of year. Thanks so much for all you do Karen!!

  • Shari D October 17, 2015 at 7:07 am

    Wow! Once again This is a fabulous addition to the collection. I love this new gift card die. I need to add this to my collection ASAP. Thanks again Karen!

  • Deonna Hotovec October 16, 2015 at 3:41 pm

    I am very excited for the gift card accordion to release. I think it opens up nice options for card making. I love all the dies that Karen has released and work with them almost weekly in my crafting. This will make an excellent addition to my collection!

  • Vivian C. October 16, 2015 at 11:04 am

    Must own new Gift Card Accordion and Flourish Gift Frame dies!!! They are fabulous! I always look forward to the monthly designer team challenges. They are always filled with such marvelous creative ideas! Thanks to everyone for sharing their talents.

  • linda fontanella October 16, 2015 at 10:57 am

    love all the cards. Your team does great work. loads of ideas to use. thanks

  • Lynnekirby October 15, 2015 at 8:06 pm

    I love all the card ideas! I give a lot of gift cards so this die would be perfect.

  • Susan B. October 15, 2015 at 7:30 pm

    Lots of cute ideas. I will have to try the tent card. I like unique cards.

  • Joyce October 15, 2015 at 6:38 pm

    What great cards. I love all your dies.

  • jlingraham October 15, 2015 at 6:14 pm

    As our family gets older gift cards get more popular so great ideas.

  • linda October 15, 2015 at 5:50 pm

    ME ME ME I love your designs and talent!

  • robin harrell October 15, 2015 at 1:32 pm

    your dies are AMAZING i have stopped buy another type!! I just love all the accordions

  • lisa808 October 15, 2015 at 12:18 pm

    What better way to celebrate than with a gift card?!?!? Awesome die and wonderful DT inspiration.

  • Linda Mayer October 15, 2015 at 10:30 am

    Love the new Accordion Gift card die…great for all occasions! 🙂

  • Sue Hislop October 15, 2015 at 7:51 am

    All of the cards are incredible and I can’t wait to get the new gift card die. I can see it having a lot of uses.

  • Yve Kelly October 15, 2015 at 7:46 am

    Such incredible cards, I particularly like the flourish gift frame with the holiday house….more like a piece of art for the wall then a card! If I ever received anything like this it would be a CELEBRATION

  • Sabrina Radican October 15, 2015 at 5:33 am

    All the cards are so cute and adorable and so beautiful!!! What a great way to display a gift card!!!

  • carol snedden October 15, 2015 at 4:55 am

    looking at all the samples and thinking I must have this new gift card die. Great ideas from the team. Now a chance to win it, how great is that.

  • Marty Fishman October 15, 2015 at 3:19 am

    Just love all the cards made with the new dies – so versatile! Adding to my wish list…

  • TheresaMP October 15, 2015 at 3:18 am

    The designers come up with such amazing ways to use the dies. Love that there is so much flexibility in what I have purchased. thanks as always for sharing.

  • Mathilde October 15, 2015 at 2:26 am

    I just love the new Gift Card Accordion and Flourish Gift Frame dies !!! I also love the tent card with the tiny house and many of your background dies with the clouds or with the dots !! So much inspiration and fun time to come when I see your projects ! Thanks for sharing !

  • hellerlittle October 15, 2015 at 1:46 am

    OMG !!! I´ll think this Gift Card Accordion die is a must have for me !!!
    so many opportunities to use it .. I love it !!!
    instead of a Gift-card it is certainly also possible to use a small envelope for money,messages, etc.
    Hope to find it at the Kreativ-Welt in Frankfurt/Germany
    CU hellerlittle

  • Anne R October 15, 2015 at 1:40 am

    Wow, there is certainly some amazing inspiration from the DT, I just love the idea of the gift card holder – clever and useful!

  • JenW October 14, 2015 at 11:05 pm

    I get requests for birthday cards from friends and co-workers because accordian cards are so gorgeous -imagine what they’d say to one with a gift card!

  • Maricruz Diffey October 14, 2015 at 10:47 pm

    Can’t wait for that gift card accordion die to become available for the rest of us. So MANY ideas!!! Thank you!

  • Lisa Taylor October 14, 2015 at 10:23 pm

    Great job! LOVE them ALL! Such talent! Thanks so much for your hard work and sharing with us!

  • Gerry October 14, 2015 at 10:06 pm

    Donna & Shelly’s unique cards are very beautiful. All the cards are beautiful. You and your designers are so talented .

  • Marisol October 14, 2015 at 7:17 pm

    Accord-ion to ME ha ha these are excellent. As my nieces and nephews get older they always ask for money or gift cards to their fave store I always like to give it to them with a WOW factor instead of just a card this definitely has WOW factor!

  • Debbie Kaste October 14, 2015 at 7:14 pm

    Very clever and amazing cards. Love seeing what everyone has come up with!

  • Myrna October 14, 2015 at 7:10 pm

    Wonderful, inspiring cards. Enjoyed watching the video, too. Thanks.

  • Linda T. October 14, 2015 at 6:20 pm

    I can see using the gift card accordion for lots of occasions. Great idea.

  • Pat Runnells October 14, 2015 at 5:46 pm

    Never ceases to amaze me! What clever ways to celebrate many occasions using the animal dies! Love the new Lucky Rabbit! Another must have!

  • Pam B. October 14, 2015 at 5:33 pm

    Some many wonderful ideas from such talented designers. It gave me some great ideas for future cards that I will be making.

  • Nancy E October 14, 2015 at 5:22 pm

    I love all your creations and dies, and I would love to win any of them.

  • Joni Seith October 14, 2015 at 5:22 pm

    Jolly the Mouse card with the cheese banner is just too cute. All of your designers are so creative and talented.

  • Mary Beth October 14, 2015 at 5:19 pm

    What great new ideas. Especially for gift cards.

  • Kim Miller October 14, 2015 at 5:09 pm

    Such creativity I love all the cards. TFS

  • Ne-Col October 14, 2015 at 5:00 pm

    I absolutely love these dies. Karen you took the guess work out of how to make all the pieces fit perfectly. And thanks for picking such a fabulous team to create these unique samples. I get new ideas every time I come to the site.

  • Jeannie Huff October 14, 2015 at 4:59 pm

    Amazing work! Hats off on the creativity.

  • Nancy Roth October 14, 2015 at 4:59 pm

    I love these dies! All the cards are wonderful and I would love to have them as I have lots of ideas.

  • Robin Kuppens October 14, 2015 at 4:38 pm

    These cards are all wonderful! I really love the siamese cat. What is the name of it? I love all of the animals also!

  • Deana Hayes October 14, 2015 at 4:36 pm

    All the cards are great this month. I love the new frame edges.

  • Chery October 14, 2015 at 4:16 pm

    These cards are amazing. Love the tent card. Neat ideas.

  • Mers October 14, 2015 at 4:05 pm

    Hi Karen, I love to have those dies, i only had bought the square one, hope to have the rectangular die 🙂

  • Debe Aston October 14, 2015 at 3:55 pm

    The accordian gift card holder is terrific! How unique and who doesn’t give out gift cards this days! Great idea.

  • clownmom October 14, 2015 at 3:45 pm

    Super inspiration from the whole team. And I loved your video on that cute gift card holder.

  • Patricia Van Dinter October 14, 2015 at 3:41 pm

    I can’t wait to CELEBRATE with my friends and family all the great new ideas and challenges that await me with the new Flourished Frame and Gift Card Accordion dies. Thanks for the great ideas and video!

  • Mary Holshouser October 14, 2015 at 3:36 pm

    I love that tent card.
    All of the cards are wonderful.
    thanks for sharing.

  • Raquel Mason September 16, 2015 at 8:09 pm

    Amazing inspiration from the entire team! Great video too!

  • Karen Aicken September 16, 2015 at 7:02 pm

    Wow – amazing projects. It’s always so much fun to see everyone’s projects together in one giant post. Great video too … it never occurred to me to flip the Gift Card Accordion around so the pretty scored lines are on the front page.

  • Petroschi Bianca September 16, 2015 at 12:41 pm

    waw,al cards are amazing.Love them all

  • Melanie September 16, 2015 at 8:51 am

    Beautiful! I especially love the Rare Oddities and Jolly the Mouse and Swiss cheese banner! Very inspired! 🙂

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