Gothic card using Stampin Up Swirly Snowflakes

When I first saw the snowflake border die in the Swirly Snowflakes Thinlits Dies I saw a lacy border. I knew that this would have loads of possibilities so knew that it would not be just for Christmas. Over at Simply Stylish Stampers we have a team challenge this month (set by me the winner of the previous months challenge) which is to make non Christmas projects out of Christmas Dies, stamps and papers.  This is one of my entries.

I made this card for my youngest son to give to his flatmate for their birthday, he told me she was into vampires and gothic things, which is useful for a Stamping Up Demo ...not! He did say he doubted if I had any vampire stamps - he was not wrong there! I was impressed that he did have some concept of what I use to create my cards, unlike my sister who often asks the impossible!

I remember the Swirly Snowflakes border and put my thinking cap on and came up with this gatefold card that looks like a Basque.

The card base is a standard size (half a sheet of A4 (5 7/8th x 8 1/4)) but instead of scoring in half I scored at 2 1/16th on both short sides, then folded and burnished them so they met in the middle perfectly. To get this measurement I used the Stamping Up Trimmer because that allows you to score at such a small increment.

I then used the Snowflake outline border to cut each edge of the gate fold. 

This die gives you a really nice lace effect for the Basque. 

I then stamped onto of this section to give it a lace overlay look.  I used the long lace stamp from  Touches of Texture. 

I distressed the Fresh Floral DSP (5 7/8th x 4) with black distress ink and stuck to the inside of the card.  The black snowflake border was stuck to front of card.

Using the circle punch I cut a curve on side of card - I followed the pattern of the lace to give the impression of a waistline. 

The pattern of the border does give a line to follow. 

I then stamped a scrap with the Lacy stamp as I did for the front, allowed this to dry before stamping again with the happy birthday sentiment from the Label Me Pretty stamp set which I heat embossed.  I then cut the babel out using the corresponding punch and layered this onto of a black label punched with the Pretty Label punch. 

Holes were punched in the front of each side of the Basque and ribbon was threaded through and tied in a bow. The sentiment was adhered using dimensionals and the whole card front was stuck onto the single layer base that was scored at 3/4 from the top creating a portrait style folded card.

I did get feedback from my son to say his friend loved the card :-)

I hope you like it and give it a try.  I would really love to see your makes.  Bye for now, 

Gez xxx

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