Hey everyone. It’s EK and today I am sharing (for me) a huge project. It is one that I have been kicking around the idea of for sometime, thinking that a rainbow of critters would be absolutely darling…but I just have been missing some of what I needed to really make it work. However with the latest release of critter dies from Joset, I have finally been able to create a rainbow of critters!
For each critter, I would die cut out the pieces to that critter, and then using my copic markers, would color the pieces. Finally, using Kids Choice Glue, I would assemble the pieces. For the red fox, I used the new Fox die set, I used a combination of R14, R17, R46, and R89 for the dark fur and R000, R02 and R14 for the lighter parts.
For the Monkey die set, I pulled out some YR02, YR07 and YR27 for the dark parts and YR000, YR00, and YR02 for the light parts.
The yellow lion was created using the Lion/Tiger die set and Y32, Y35 and Y38 for mid-tones of yellow. The mane, hair and tail were created using Y23, Y26, and Y28 while the pale yellow parts were created with Y000, Y00, and Y02.
The green parrot was created using the new Parrot die set, plus YG05, G16 and G19 for the dark parts and YG11, YG13 and YG17.
My little blue bird was created using the new Winer Bird die set and B12, B14, B16, B18 for the dark parts, and B000, B00 and B02 for the light parts.
I used BV0000, BV00, and BV01 for the dark parts of the indigo Elephant and RV91 and RV95 for the pale parts.
Finally, I for the violet Hippo, I used the Hippo die set plus V12, V15, and V17.
To turn my rainbow of critters into an actual card, I pulled out a piece of White Soft Finish Cardstock trimmed to 5.5 x 12 inches. I then scored the paper at 1 and 3/4 inches, 3 and 7/8 inches, 8 and 1/8 inches and 10 and 1/4 inches so the card could fold up and be a traditional A2 card size.
However, when you fold it up, the top layer is actually about half an inch shorter than it should be.
So I trimmed up two pieces of Rich Black Soft Finish Cardstock to 5.5 x 1 inch. Using some 6mm Clear Double Sided Adhesive to the back of the fold and adhered the black panels.
To add some visual interested in the background by adding some Distress Inks blended through the Snowstorm & Mounds stencil. I used Candied Apple, Carved Pumpkin, Mustard Seed, Mowed Lawn, Mermaid Lagoon, Seedless Perseveres and Victorian Velvet.
I adhered the critters to the card, using both 3mm and 6mm Clear Double Sided Adhesive and Kids Choice Glue. Where I needed to, I scored the critters so the card can fold.
Make sure where you score the critters you apply extra adhesive so the cardstock does not pop up when you open the card.
Adhere the red fox and violet hippo to the front flaps of the card. Make sure not to have any adhesive on this tail that overlap the opening.
I created two belly bands to hold my card closed out of two pieces of Rich Black Cardstock trimmed to 10 x 1 inch. I scored and folded the black strips to create belly bands that were 4 3/8 wide.
I die cut the words ‘friends’ from the Words 4-Remember die set from some 90lb Soft Finish Cardstock and adhered it to one of the belly bands.
Inside the card, I stamped a sentiment from the Little Words That Mean A Lot stamp set. I thought this sentiment worked perfectly since rainbows come after the rain, and these critter of friends would brighten anyone’s day.
Here is the finished card, closed with the belly bands.
And here is the card opened. It is so big that it is actually hard to photograph the card fully extended.
I however, love how this came out.
Thanks for peaking in on my rainbow of critter project today. Let me know in the comments below which critter you thought turned out the best in their color scheme. Until then, Happy Crafting.
EK Gorman
so adorable – love this project
Darling card!!!!!! And the belly band title pulled it all together…could b a crazy group that gathers to create! ❤️
This one just stole my heart!!!!
Just darling and lots of work and love has gone into this card. They are truly a rainbow of colors. Just darling.
This card is really awesome I love it so much! I cant decide on a single favorite character they are all so cutely coloured but I guess I can narrow it down to the lion, parrot, and elephant lol
Adorable Makes me smile TFS
Such a great idea, love your card and the photos and tutorial are great.
Absolutely adorable! Love the rainbow idea!!! TFS!