My blog is called "Creative Smiles" because my designs are the result of incorporating mistakes. With fumble fingers that drop whatever they are holding - repeatedly, it takes a lot of giggles, smiles and creative patience during my crafting process. xx

Wednesday, August 22, 2018

Trifold with Aperture Style Cards

Welcome, friends! Hope Life is treating you well.
(as always, if you are reading directly on my blog, click on photos to enlarge)



It's time for another
Back to Basics and Beyond Challenge!


For the next two weeks, join us by uploading an "Anything-Goes" challenge as long as a an aperture is used. The team has all kinds of inspiration and a variety of aperture styles to view, so take a look! Hope to see yours there.

Having stamped for nearly 30 years, I am embarrassed to admit that this is the first "from scratch" aperture card I have made. It's a tri-fold card. Those of you who are familiar with me know I am NOT a paper engineer, and will be proud of my attempt.

Folded, it measures 6" x 4":



It's a simple design
without many layers,
and would have looked prettier with more ink and dry embossed layers for texture.


The image (a virgin stamp that is at least 12 years old) is by Impression Obsession,
stamped with VersaFine,
and colored with Tombow markers.


The front cut is larger than
the 2nd panel cut,
to offer a turquoise mat
against the glittery white frame in front.


I didn't know how to keep the card closed for photographing.

The second panel still only shows a glimpse of the image beneath, but frame it differently:


Opens all the way to finish the sweet message "you are" on the front --
"very special to me."



Hope to see your aperture creations at the challenge blog -

Products Used:
Challenges I'd like to play in please:


  1. My Time To Craft #377 "More Than One Fold" 8/25
  2. Pile It On #145 "New Technique and/or Oldest Stash" (NBUS stamp over 10 years old and old SB dies AND new-for-me technique in card fold) 9/2 (sep post)
  3. Cardz 4 Galz #78 "Dies and/or Punches" (have used several dies and one punch) 8/29
  4. Word Art Wednesday #348-349 Sentiment Innie and Outie "you are very special to me" 8/29
  5. ScrapyLand Challenges #96 AG with dies SL sells (Spellbinders: Labels Four, 5x7 Elegant Labels Four, Shapeabilities Foliage) 9/5
  6. World Wide Open DT Challenge #8 AG for DT 9/15
Stamping hugs,






48 comments:

meg said...

Brilliant step by step instructions on how to make your card, love the colours and image.

Crafting Queen said...

Stunning card, love the design you created!

Mrs A. said...

Besutiful card Donna. As daft as it sounds I have never thought to cut the apertures this way . I have always cut one and then tried to aline the second one up Der!! Hugs Mrs A.

Beebeebabs said...

Wow your card is absolutely beautiful - love the die and layout - love everything about this card. Thank you as always sharing the tutorial. Another great creation!!!

cuilliesocks said...

Absolutely beautiful Donna, Kate x x

aussie aNNie said...

Beautiful card DE, love how you give us your step by step, most useful and your result is spectacular.xx

Linda Simpson said...

This is stunning Donna, love the image and gorgeous card design too.
Hugs
Linda xxx

Diane said...

Beautiful card Donna, so elegant and the sparkle of course is fabulous...a great image too, wonderful and easy to follow directions, thanks for that...a gorgeous creation!!!

Shona Erlenborn said...

Gorgeous make! I love this idea for a fold! Great how-to instructions, Donna. What a beautiful image too, you've colored it perfectly and the positioning of the sentiment works so well. Another beauty, dear friend.

brenda said...

It's a real beauty Donna, all those layers give such depth and dimension and really draw the ete to the beautiful Hummingbird and blooms which I have to say work so well in the shades of blue and hints of green.

B x

Hazel (Didos) said...

Oh what a stunning aperture card, love the colours and the shape, Love Hazelx

Jackie T said...

Hi Donna this is a stunning card I love it. The design is amazing. Take care. Hugs Jackie

SD pooja said...

I love gate fold card and the shape of aperture looks very nice :) Beautiful card Donna :)

Chris said...

Great step by step tutorial Donna ...and a stunning end result! Beautiful image and colouring framed by a gorgeous glittery diecut, love it!
hugs
Chris
x

Sue said...

Hi Donna, Oh that is so pretty.

Hope you are having a lovely day. Sue

KarinsArtScrap said...

what a great design Donna it's a gorgeous card

Lisa said...

Wow, Donna, this is so stunning!! I love how you created the aperture!! The stamp is gorgeous!! I love the colors!! It's so beautiful, my friend!! And you are so sweet to post the tutorial, too!! Thanks so much for playing along at Scrapy Land!! Have a great day!! Big hugs :)

Lisa
A Mermaid's Crafts

Pia S said...

I picked up some really useful tips here and I’m going to try and make an aperutre card for this challenge using your fold and tips. Simple design, are you kidding me, it looks fantastic; but it might be simpler to make than you imagined beforehand:)

Leslie Miller said...

Oh, wow! You took the aperture card to the next level with this beautiful trifold. I'm not a paper engineer, either, so don't do many fancy folds. Once in a blue moon. Love seeing them, though. Very special! Gorgeous image you used with the mostly blue tones. Dreamy!

Wendy said...

Stunning card Donna, beautiful image and design.
Wendy xx

cotnob said...

A beautiful card Donna, lovely blues and such a pretty stamp - a fabulous aperture design.
Pauline - Crafting with Cotnob
x

Ann Greenspan's Crafts said...

Hi Donna! What a striking card; love the blues. You put so much time into your cards (and it shows) and also the write up tutorials on your blog. I don't know how you find time to do anything else. I kind of let my blog go and love it; no responsibility and a lot less work. Thanks for the share.

MaryH said...

You've really aced your first 'from scratch' triple aperture card. (I've only ever made one in class, using a die for the purpose...and I didn't find even that easy.) Love that you've used your NBUS hummer, and he's so gleaming. The framework you've created around each of the windows is lovely, and I think you should give yourself lots of back pats, cause this is just beautiful, and beautifully done!!! (I think in the class, we put a band around the card, but not sure). TFS & Hugs

crafty-stamper said...

Fabulous tri-fold card love all the die-cut layers and beautiful image through the aperture---you always give us such great tips--not that I always remember them !!! lol
Carol x

Verna Angerhofer said...

This is an absolutely gorgeous card. I love the way you stamped out that beautiful hummingbird scene. Great colors and combined with your blue card stock and the white it is just stunning. Great tri-fold design too. You picked the perfect dies for framing as they really are fantastic looking.

Conniecrafter said...

Oh Donna for not being a paper engineer you have done an amazing job with your lovely creation! A wonderful tutorial also on how to put it all together, love your decorative frame you used, and of course your pretty sparkle, sweet stamp too, love the tones of blue!

Elizabeth Hart said...

The different shades of blue on this are exquisite - so pretty. Thanks so very much for joining us this month at the Pile it On Challenge, Elizabeth (DT)

Margarets designer cards said...

Beautiful card, a lot of work but well worth it for such a wonderful design.

NanaConnie said...

Magnificent, my friend! I've done a few aperture cards (like maybe 3!) but the truth is, they intimidate me because I can never get things lined up. For you to do this, having to line up two aperture layers plus the image is amazing! Love the sparkle. :-D

Sam Squires - A Crafting Niche said...

This is a fab tri-fold card and a great first at multiple apertures too. Thank you for taking part in the "My Time To Craft" challenge. Sam x

Annettes Hobby Rosettes said...

Absolutely stunning tri-fold project. Great work. I love it.
Thank you for sharing with us here today at World Wide Open Design Team Challenge and best of luck with your entry.

Annette DT Registered Owners/Admin for World Wide Open Design Team Challenge


Donna Phelan said...

LOVE this fold and all of that dimension you created. WOW! That hummingbird is having it's way with that Morning Glory lol Love the image! Fantastic!

*Vicki* said...

You've taken the aperture concept to a whole new level with this gorgeous design Donna!! LOVE the tri-fold effect and the dies you've used really bring it to an elegant design too! Love the added sparkle and what a lovely image my friend!! Sending HUGS

Sue said...

You certainly are a paper engineer! WOW, first, love the color blue you chose, and the pretty image, the card design is fabulous, I love it. Gorgeous make once again my friend, always a pleasure to see what you are creating!

Hugs
Sue

pam said...

Fantastic aperture card from scratch Donna, what a great how too!! love the colour used and wonderful stamping.
Hugs Pam x

Janis Lewis said...

Beautiful card and design. Thanks for joining us at My Time to Craft.

Debbie Mageed said...

Oh, Donna, as I am sitting looking at Lake Michigan, enjoying a little get-away for our holiday, I got to visit your beautiful blog showing us all how to make an aperture card. I haven't ever done one before and look forward to trying one now. Love, love your card!! Thank you so much for playing with my dies/punches challenge at Cardz 4 Galz and hope you will join us again soon.

KT Fit Kitty said...

This is soooooooo pretty, Donna! First of all I am in love with hummingbirds so this card is already a winner in my books! Secondly, you did a beautiful job with your apetures! I have not made this style of card before and it turned out so beautifully! Love your colour combo too! Have a wonderful weekend, my friend!

NanaConnie said...

Hey, Donna, I'm back wearing a DT hat this time. :-D I'm delighted to see you playing in our "Anything Goes" challenge at World Wide Open Design Team this month and good luck.
NanaConnie DT

Puppy Kisses and Paper Dreams said...

Absolutely delightful!!! So sweet. And, I love hummingbirds, so I extra love this card!!!

Janice said...

A beautiful card Donna, love your step by step instructions.
Janice x

sarascloset said...

Donna, this is really beautiful! I love hummingbirds! How exciting to use this never yet touched stamp! I have quite a few of these, and recently threw a bunch into a discard box. Your decorated aperture adds so much to this simple style of card, and I'm so happy you included the tutorial for others of us who also have never made this type of card. Looking forward to trying it out! Sending hugs!

Mia said...

Such a beauty, Donna!!!! Wow!!!!!!! Thank you so much for sharing the instructions. Great design. Kisses, my friend.

Helen said...

A great card - thanks for sharing it with us at Cardz 4 Galz.

Helen x

Donna said...

This is just stunning, beautifully colored and amazing design, appreciate the easy to follow tutorial! I've never heard of the term "virgin" stamp before, gave me a chuckle, I have lots of those in my craft room!

April said...

Beautiful card! I love this fold. Great work as always!

Valerija said...

ooh, this is super cute! Love the design.
Valerija xx

Monica said...

What super instructions and what a brilliant card, Donna. The blues are breathtaking.
Love,

Monica