Monday 16 June 2014

Karen Burniston's June 2014 Designer Challenge

Good morning friends!

It's time again for the Karen Burniston Designer Challenge, and this month we are to create a "Photo Accordion Album". The Design Team was free to choose any of the Accordion's - including the newest ones - but for my project I used the previously released Fancy Label Accordion.

When it was finished, I made an envelope from soft handmade paper as a safe way to store it. And carry it - I also wanted to bring it to my Elizabeth Crafts Designs Demo last week at Paper Pastimes in Calgary, and give the ladies a sneak peek.  :-)


Normally when I make Accordion cards, I have the long side tabs all on the right side. For this one though, I wanted to add a cover to the front. So I had all the long side tabs on the left, and used the first one - the end one you would normally trim off - as the hinge for my cover. I sandwiched the long tab between the front and inside front covers. Easy Peasy.


We got to visit Arizona this spring, and I was in awe of the blooming cactus. Those are the photos I used for my album.  The cover was hand lettered and I added colour with chalks. Below is the peek at the accordion before it's fully open ...


Ta Da ...


This is a 5 page Accordion, cut from Kraft card stock. Then I cut another five Fancy Label Accordion pages from copper metallic card stock, trimmed away the label pieces & set them aside. The remaining copper frames were attached to the front panels, over the Kraft Fancy Label pages. Then I used a 'dauber' to splat metallic turquoise and green acrylic paints to the edges. I used the same technique on the back of each page as well.


Since I had nowhere in the house with good lighting, I took the completed Accordion Album outside to photograph. Now I see that the sunlight created a vertical shadow down the center of pages 1, 3 and 5. Sorry about that!


Each cactus has a unique bloom, and the colours are just incredible. I loved each one.

I cut just the label portion of the Fancy Label Accordion 5 more times with green patterned paper, and attached them over the Kraft ones (fronts). The photos were cut with one of the Decorator dies that come with the Accordion, and the black mat was cut from the next size up. Once they were attached together, I outlined each photo with what was supposed to be a turquoise gel pen. But it turned silver on the black card stock... ahh well.  I punched 3 holes along the top frames and added jump rings and Southwest themed metal charms from my stash.

I chose not to add a lot of other embellishments, as I wanted the photos to take center stage. Adding all the metallic shimmer and shine from the card stock and paint was enough for me. Once the album pages were attached together, I outlined the panels outer edges with border Peel-Off's then attached the label pages together.


I added more photos to the back, first adhering the leftover copper labels to the Kraft card stock ones and preparing the photo label shapes as I did on the front. That makes a total of TEN PHOTOS in this little album!



The picture below gives you a better idea of the metallic paint ..


In addition to the two rows of Peel-Off's on the inside cover, I cut one of the Fancy Edge Frame Edges from black card stock and trimmed off the corner pieces. This left me with a nice border!

When I was finished, I showed hubby who said "You are keeping this one right? Not sending it to anyone? I think you should keep this one."  I guess that means he likes it.  :-)


These Accordion Albums are SO versatile and fun to do. You can add as many pages as you wish, and make the Album's any theme or colour you want to!  Make sure to check out what the rest of the designers came up with and watch for Karen Burniston's post Wednesday on the Elizabeth Craft Designs Blog. She will have a new (and most likely jaw-dropping) project to share as well.

Supplies used:
Fancy Label Accordion - Pop it Ups, Karen Burniston (Elizabeth Craft Designs)
Fancy Frame Edges - Pop it Ups, Karen Burniston (Elizabeth Craft Designs)
Peel-Off's - Elizabeth Craft Designs
Kraft card stock
Metallic copper card stock - my stash
Black card stock
Confetti card stock
Chalks & Q-tip
Blue (silver) gel pen - Gelly Roll
Turquoise and Green metallic acrylic paints - Plaid
Photos - my own
Charms and jewelry findings - from my stash.  Yes, I have a huge stash. Huge.

Thanks for stopping by today!

5 comments:

  1. An awesome photo accordion album to showcase all those pretty cacti flowers

    ReplyDelete
  2. Beautiful Accordion Karen & love the little charms you've added.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thats so fantastic! Compliments!
    elma

    ReplyDelete
  4. OVER the Top Gorgeous and perfectly created LOVE LOVE LOVE this!!!! xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  5. gorgeous photos, delightful way to keep special memories at hand. thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete

Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment. I read them all, and appreciate them greatly!
Have a great day,
Karen