craftykarendesigns: Children's Concertina Birthday Cards

Hi Everyone,

This week I have been making Concertina birthday cards for children aged 1,2 and 3. I've used the Zoo Crew dsp which is very cute and some of the new Brights dsp stack as well as the Bright & Beautiful dsp. I've used a retired stamp set because I wanted something big and bold and a combination of current and retired dies for the numbers and letters. Let me show you how I made it.

Materials (for each one)

1 piece of thick white card 7 1/2" square (base) and 1 piece 7 9/16" square (lid), 4 pieces of 4" x 8 1/4" (inside concertina pieces - you need to work the number of these out depending on how long the name is, I'm giving the quantities for a 4 letter name)

8 pieces of coloured card stock 3 3/4" square, 2 pieces 4 3/8" square

8 pieces of dsp 3 1/2" square (for the inside) 1 piece of dsp 4" square (for the front)

1 piece of basic white 4" square (for the back), 1 piece 3 1/2" square (for the sentiment)

Scraps of coloured card for the numbers and letters

Ink to match the coloured card stock

Trimmer

Simply Scored

Bone Folder

Multipurpose Adhesive

Mini Dimensionals

Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine

Letter dies

Playful Alphabet dies

Square dies

Instructions

Score the two large square white pieces of card at 1 1/2" on all four sides and sold and burnish the score lines. Cut up the score lines as shown and wedge the 4 corner sections.

Add glue to the outside of the four tabbed sections and fold them in so that the corners are square and stick them in place to make the base first which is the slightly smaller one. Then repeat with the larger one but I always stand the base inside the lid and glue the lid in place around it to make sure it is a snug fit.

Lightly mark the two pieces on the top to show which is the lid and which is the base so that you don't mix them up when you start to add the inside sections.

Score the 4" x 8 1/4" pieces at 4" and 8" on both sides and fold and burnish in both directions as they will all fold in an accordion style.

Starting with the end without the 1/4" tab, start adhering them together, put a bead of glue along the tab, lay the next piece on top (the 4" square end) and then fold the tab over the top to adhere it in place.

Repeat until you have added all the sections, you should have a tab left at the end. You can cut this off if you want to but I've left it. Once you add the coloured card and dsp over the top, you can't see it.

Adhere all the dsp layers to the coloured card mats, decide which order you want them and adhere them in place along the concertina section - I do this before I add it into the box, I find it easier.

Add glue to the back of the two end sections and lay down on the inside of the lid at the left hand end and the base at the right.

The concertina section should now all fold up and fit inside the box.

Die cut the letters and numbers that you need along with the square for the stamped image on the front. I've used a retired set of letters but there is a current set which I have listed below but I don't have them yet.

Add mini dimensionals to the back of all the letters and then fix in place. I take the backing off and lightly lay them in place to make sure they are straight and then when I am happy with the placing, I press them down to secure.

Add the coloured card to the front and back of the box, then add the white square to the back to write a message. Add the dsp layer to the front and then stamp a sentiment on the die cut squares and add to the front, I've added them on an angle so I could add the numbers in the corners. I had cut out 4 of each number so have added 2 to the front and 2 on the inside front and back sections.

The card is complete and looking very cute. It takes a bit of card and dsp as well as a bit of time but it's worth it. I've made lots of these over the years, for all ages and the recipients have always loved them. I hope that you will give this card a try.

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Happy Crafting,

Karen X

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