International Blog Hop highlighting Stampin' Up! products

Welcome to our International Blog Hop. We are a group of demonstrators from around the world that want to show you ideas and inspiration using the latest Stampin' Up!® products. You may just be starting the blog hop here at my blog - With a Bow on Top - or may have come from the person previous to me in the list. If you get off track at any time, the full line up below will help you move along from blog to blog so you see all the projects. At the moment you are visiting Lou Kitzelman from Australia. This blog hop is for the top 10 winners from Kylie Bertucci's international blog highlights in July. This is the card I entered.

There are so many great products in the new 2016 Stampin' Up! Holiday catalogue. You can order from it from next Thursday, September 1st. That's 8 sleeps away. One of my favourite stamp sets is called Jar of Cheer and coordinates with the Everyday Jar Framelits from the Annual Catalogue.

I have so many projects planned using this set - from shaker cards to spinner cards and everything in between! But today I have just one idea to show you - a tea light tent card.

It is really easy to make, folds flat to fit into a standard C6 envelope and when it stands up it really puts on a show. The perfect Christmas decoration/card to post or to give to someone really special.

I have used Copper Embossing Powder to define the jar, lid and sentiment. Embossing looks great on vellum and designs can easily be coloured using Stampin' Write Markers as I have done here.

You also might have spotted 2 other new products - Holly Berry Happiness stamp set and the coordinating punch, Holly Berry Builder punch. They come as a bundle which means a great saving.

Here’s what you need to make it:
Base – 12 x 29.7 cm
Front top mat - 9 x 11 cm
Front 2nd mat - 9.5 x 11.5 cm
Inside top mat - 9 x 11 cm
Inside 2nd mat - 9.5 x 11.5 cm
Vellum window – 6 x 7.5 cm

Basic card construction:
1. Score your base piece along the long side at 10 and 20 cm. See diagram 1.
2. Because the cardstock is not quite 30 cm long the bottom section will be a few millimetres shorter than the other 2 sections. This will help the card to close better. Fold up the bottom section first, then fold the top third over that.
3. While the card is closed place a little cross with a pencil on the top flap. This will help with placement. If all else fails fold your card up again to determine where you should be placing items.
4. Unfold the card, turn over and flip end for end. Now you will have the top section with the cross on it at the bottom and all of the folds will be mountain folds. See Diagram 2.
5.  Tack the mats for the front of the card together using repositionable tape or a 2-way glue pen. Note: 2-way glue pens have a permanent bond if adhered straight away but is repositionable if left to dry first. The repositionable property is what we will use for the Tea light tent cards. It will tack the layers in place while we die cut the trees. Die cutting the 3 layers together will ensure that all layers line up later. Place a small dab on the top and bottom of the back of each layer. Allow to dry. It will start off blue and will be clear and shiny when dry. This may take a few minutes. Place the layers together, making sure to centre them.
6. Centre the mats on the card front (bottom third of Diagram 2).
7. Position your framelit on the card front. Die cut. The shape should come out of the top 2 layers. Carefully remove the mats and fit the framelit into the partially die cut shape on the card base and run it through the Bigshot again. You will have 3 shapes to use on this card or for another project.
8. Separate the layers and die cut pieces. So that you don’t bend the layers when separating, use a pin pricking tool or ruler to separate the layers. Lay the tool or ruler flat and gently move between the layers. Sometimes layers can get a bit too attached when you run them through the Bigshot. Find your front 2nd mat and lay on the table right side up. Place glue around the outline of the die cut shape hole and lay the vellum over the top. Make sure the vellum is also right side up. Place double sided tape on the back of front top mat and place over top 2nd mat that has the vellum attached. Make sure you line up the cut out and edges properly. This mat and vellum sandwich can be adhered to the card front next, lining everything up carefully.
9. Decorate your card front as desired.
10. The easiest way to find the inside of the card is to fold your card up again and then open as if you would to read it. The place to put the inside panel is the bottom third. The back of the front should be showing in the top third section.
11. Adhere the 2 mats to the inside of the card. Stamp a sentiment inside and decorate as much or as little as you like. (I like to leave room for a personal message).

12. To prop the card open you can use rhinestones or an element raised with Stampin' Dimensionals. Place them about 3 cm in from the bottom and side edges. When you open the card, you stand the card front behind them and place the battery operated tea light candle under the tent.
13. Turn the lights off and sit back and admire your work!

On September 1st make sure you look out for these great products - Jar of Cheer 142161, Holly Berry Happiness 142061 and the coordinating punch, Holly Berry Builder punch 141843.

You are currently visiting Australia.  If you are from this area I would love to assist you with purchasing and using Stampin' Up!® products. You might also like to join my team. Why not join now and get great discounts on all of your Christmas crafting products?

Thanks for taking part in our blog hop, there are so many amazing ideas and inspiration you don't want to miss. Remember that currently visiting Lou Kitzelman, so check the blog hop line up list to see who is next in the list.

Product List

Everyday Jars Framelits Dies [141490] $56.00	Copper Stampin' Emboss Powder [141636] $8.75	Foam Adhesive Strips [141825] $14.00	White Vellum A4 Card Stock [106584] $11.50	Copper Metallic Thread [141696] $5.25	2016-2018 In Color Enamel Shapes [141410] $15.75	Many Marvelous Markers [131264] $190.00
2016-2018 In Color Stampin' Write Markers [141393] $26.00	Whisper White A4 Card Stock [106549] $15.75	Peekaboo Peach A4 Cardstock [141422] $14.00	Soft Suede A4 Card Stock [119982] $14.00	Stampin' Trimmer [129722] $50.00