Pop - Up Castle Card

I know its been a few days between cards so sorry about that but hopefully today's card will make up for it - and yes it did take me 3 days to make!!
The Outside of the card is just a hint as to the contents of the Inside (more on that later!) and is inspired by two challenges. My first double challenge card of the year!
The lovely sketch is from the great team at Freshly Made Sketches.

And the theme of a Birthday card and to use some Twine is from another fabulous team: The Friday Mashup

Here I have used a medley of stamps and dies - some current, some Retired  and some are a sneak peek as to some of the free items going to be available during Saleabration later this month and we are ALL looking forward to that aren't we :-)

The crown is an old favourite from Artistic Etchings and here is Silver Embossed and filled with Rhinestones. The 3 is also a retired Die and have used some Crystal Effects to give it that extra shine. The hearts are all stamped from Hearts a Flutter and the large are cut with the co-ordinating framelits while the smaller is punched using a retired 3 heart punch. The sentiment is from Create a Cupcake. And yes,  I did have fun lining up all the chevrons :-)

Card stock: Melon Mambo, Whisper White
Ink: Melon Mambo, Pink Pirouette (retired), Versamark
Stamps: Artistic Etchings, Positively Chevron, Hearts a Flutter, Create a Cupcake
Accessories: Big Shot, Decorative Dots EF,*  Hearts a Flutter Framelits, Timeless Type Alphabet Die, 3 Heart Punch, Crystal Effects, Basic Rhinestones, White Bakers Twine

Now, I hear you ask that isn't this a bit demure for a 3 year old's card? Where are all the banners and fun things?? Well, this time they are on the INSIDE :-)

I found a basic pop up Castle template at Robertsabudas.com and printed it out on different coloured card stock before embellishing to the Max.

There are three tiers that pop up. And I suggest that if you are wanting to attempt to this then do print out a practice template first to work it out. Once you see how it goes together it is easier to see where you can embellish.

Here you can see the workings of the card. The white base has been covered with some DSP with holes cut for the moveable parts ( a job in itself!!) The Flag banner was another little addition - from the Hostess Banner Greetings set and is added to a Tooth pick with glue dots. The little Flowers on the sides here are actually to hide where a cut was made in the DSP to slide under and through the glued workings! Similar cuts were made in bottom piece but were to the back of the card and fortunately not visible. And yes, next time will do this BEFORE glueing!!!

So all the panels were given the EF treatment and the above doorway arch is made using the Wide Oval and Word Window punches. The tower tops all were given some border punched turrets and heaps of Rhinestones. To make the flowers I first stamped using one of the hearts in the Hearts a flutter stamp set and punched out with the Bitty punch pack. The hearts are punched and Die Cut the same way as those on the front. The DSP is retired and am pleased to be using up some of my old stock to make room for some new ones soon!! The base of the Pop Up is adhered to the Card base using Sticky Strip. The Castle pieces are adhered using Tombow Glue.

As my Niece lives overseas I have decided to use a Talking Tag so she can hear the message  - and no great need for lots of room to write inside! Yes, its a bit over the top but you're only 3 once after all :-)

Card stock: Whisper White, Pink Pirouette, Melon Mambo.

Ink: Melon mambo, Pink Pirouette, 

Stamps: Hearts a Flutter, Banner Greetings (Hostess)

Accessories: Big Shot, Lattice EF, Decorative Dots EF*, Itty Bitty Shapes pack, Scallop Trim Border punch, Wide oval and Word Window Punches, Basic Rhinestones, Tombow Multipurpose Glue, Snail, Sticky Strip.

*Upcoming Saleabration item

Happy stamping until next time,

Jan