Friday 15 January 2010

What's a bellyband?????





Hello Bloggers,
What's a bellyband? that's what I asked when I read the challenge on STV!!!

Carolina explained...... so I made these note cards and 'bellyband' for her challenge. We were asked to make four cards, keeping them simple so we could spend more time on the 'bellyband', which holds them all together.
Don't know about you but it takes me a while to make most of my cards.... I start, usually with some dp and a stamp in mind, then play. I played for a while with these as I was trying to decide if the right way was to make the cards first then the band, or the other way round. In the end I kinda made them both together. Hope you like them.

The base card is a ridged white card, making stamping directly onto it a little difficult but the ridges added some texture which I liked.
Decoration on the card base was assembled by punching two strips of the plain side of the dp with the Fiskar's Upper Crest punch. Then two strips of the patterned dp and joining the punched edge at the bottom. Cross cut 4 x 4.25" pieces from these and add the coordinating ribbon through the centre. This is then attached to the card front with double sided tape.
I've stamped the hanging basket from 'Elegant Post' by Nina Brackett for Gina K Designs 5 times onto the plain side of the dp in SU Chocolate Chip. A Spellbinders scalloped circle die was used to cut these out. No Colouring required, just a tiny chocolate self adhesive pearl attached to the basket. Fine Foam tape was used to attach the image over the ribbon in the centre of the card. The sentiment From the same set was stamped in Chocolate Chip with the aid of a SU stamp-a-ma-jig.

The belly band was more or less made the same except the base is heavyweight chocolate chip with the bottom edge punched with the Upper Crest punch.
The 5th image was attached to a larger scalloped circle cut from the same chocolate chip card .

I've centred the cards in the band and scored all four edges before folding the band. I've stuck some velcro at the back of the band to hold it together firmly. When the band is over the cards the brown punched edge sits just higher that the paler 'Taupe' card which looks like a shadow.
I have to tell you that the bottom picture was taken first on a bright but windy day (which is why they are laid flat!). The first picture was taken inside on a dull day without a flash so it's a terrible picture really but you can see the complete set.
Hope you like this project, I enjoyed making it and it will be added to Mums birthday parcel.

Till next time..........

Recipe:
Stamp: Elegant Post by Nina Brackett for Gina K Design
Paper: White card - RomanPrint Australia. Gina K Design Heavyweight Chocolate. DP American Crafts
Ink: SU Chocolate Chip
Embellishment: Ribbon Elements by American Craft. Kaisercraft self adhesive pearls in chocolate.
Other: Fiskars Upper Crest Border Punch. Velcro dots from my sewing basket.

8 comments:

Nina said...

Sue I love your belly band, and well of course your cards to, because without them you really don't need a belly band! LOL... I love it when the paper can do a lot of the work for you with the color and I think your hanging basket in the brown/black ink is just lovely. What a nice gift set. I just love making stuff like this! Beautiful!

Patti J said...

Your mom is going to be thrilled with yet another gorgeous gift! These are just fantastic! I love everything about them! Thanks so much for sharing!

Selma said...

Your gift set is beautiful Sue. I have never done this for a card set and hope to have time to do this challenge. Hope your back is doing better.

Betty Benton said...

Love your project, Sue! Can't wait to hear your mum's reaction to all the goodies you're going to send to her!

Juls said...

these are gorgeous!!! and I have learnt something new today!! your belly band has worked out perfectly!

Kathy Jones said...

Your bellybands are wonderful Sue!! Love your cards and that is a beautiful scripted sentiment.

Jose said...

Love these cards and the 'bellyband' a lovely gift for you Mum

Curt in Indy said...

You did an exceptional job with these! I knew what a "belly band" was, but I hate that term. Reminds me of two things:
1. An article of clothing to help keep a big gut in check
or
2. A group of large guys that take off their shirts and thump on their bellies to make music! LOL

Now, with that being said, I LOVE your belly band project! Best, Curt