Double Easel Card - Purple Dreams!

This tutorial shows you how to make a double easel card that is useful for many card designs and uses some of the stamps from this fab set of unmounted stamps from Creative Expressions, 'Steampunk Dreams'.

Step 1:   For the card base cut a piece of black card 5¾” x 11½ ".   Using a score board score and fold it at  2⁷/₈  and  5¾” with the card in the landscape position then turn the card to the portrait position with the scored section at the top of the card and score at 2⁷/₈ ” up to the centre fold only. To make the double easel cut along this score line to the fold.

Step 2:   Distress 3 edges of the easel base (square area not scored or cut) with a disressing tool or by dragging the closed blade of a scissor at an angle across the edge of the card.

Step 3:   With the easel base in front of you (fold at top edge) put DST across each of the two bottom sections of the divided easel strips (the nearest sections to you).

Step 4:   Cut two black oblongs that measure 5¾” x 2 ⁷/₈”.  Distress the edges of the oblongs with a disressing tool or the blade of a scissor as you did previously and then attach one to each of the easel base pieces.   Be careful to line them up so they do not overlap each other.  It is easier to do this with the easel pieces pressed flat while you attach the two oblongs.

Step 5:   Cut two panels from a pale lilac card stock that measures 5½” x 2 ⁵/₈”.   Working on the first Lilac panel, stamp cogs at the base of the panel, with the small cog stamp, using perfect medium and then heat emboss with Ranger Black Sparkle embossing powder. Working on the second panel stamp and emboss the cogs top and bottom and the greeting in the centre. (see photo for placement). 

Step 6:   Next working on both Lilac panels take a piece of sequin waste and using some dry foam rub on Dusty Concord Distress ink using the sequin waste as a mask. Do this in a random fashion creating light and dark areas of texture. Then, using the same ink, darken the edges of each panel before once again distressing the edges with either a distressing tool or the blade of your scissors.

Step 7:   Cut a piece of white card stock 5½” x 2 ⁵/₈”  I find that a card with a slight coating works best for this technique you do not want to use something that acts like blotting paper or you will not be able to blend the distress ink. First stamp the small cog stamp randomly all over the white card using Black Archival ink.  Allow this to dry.

Step 8:  Colour the panel using Dusty Concord distress ink using a piece of dry foam or similar.  I am using a piece that was cut from a memory foam mattress topper (thanks Mum!)

Step 9:   Splatter the panel with water and blot with a piece of kitchen roll to add texture to the panel and then distress the edges of the panel using a distressing tool or the blades of scissors. 

Step 10:  When the panel is dry attach a strip of double sided tape (DST) across the middle of the panel with the panel in the landscape position leaving extra tape at each end.  Remove the backing from the DST and ruche a strip of black ribbon across the centre of the panel. This ribbon acts as a stopper to keep the easel card panels in the upright position. 

Step 11:  Wrap the ends of the ribbon to the back of the panel and attach to the card base at the front edge using DST (see photo).

Step 12:  Attach the quote panel you made earlier centrally to the right hand black easel panel using DST and using glue attach 2 purple gems to the centre of the cogs top and bottom of the panel (see photo) .

Step 13:   On a piece of white card stamp and emboss the winged dress form, large butterfly and the word DREAM again using Perfect Medium and Ranger Black Sparkle Embossing Powder. 

Step 14:  Cut out the butterfly.  Cut out the dress form removing the cogs at the hip area under the wings and cut around the hip area to release the wings slightly (this helps with the shaping).  Cut the word 'DREAM' into a 2¼” strip. 

Step 15:   Swipe some Dusty Concord distress ink to your messy mat and add water and lightly colour wash the dress form body and the butterfly using a small paint brush. 

Step 16:   Next add shading to the center of the butterfly wings and the edges of the dress form by applying more ink this time using less water. 

Step 17:  Shape the dress form then add glue to the white areas of the wings and dress form stand and dip into the Stampendous Frantage Silver crushed glass glitter.  Allow to dry and then shape the dress form and attach using foam pads to the left hand lilac panel you stamped earlier.

Step 18:  Ink the edges of the word strip with Dusty Concord Distress Ink and fold at ⅛” from each end. 

Step 19:  Colour some staples using a purple Promarker or alcohol ink. Attach the strip to the card panel above the dress form with DST and then using a stapler and the purple staples. Create a curve in the word strip as you attach it.  Attach the finished panel to the centre of the left panel of the easel card using DST. Add a purple gem to the centres of the cogs at the bottom of the panel and the centre of the cog on the dress form.

Step 20:  To finish the card, shape the butterfly and attach with a foam pad and glue (for extra adhesion) to the ribbon at an angle – this allows the wing to act as a stopper for the right hand panel which causes it to sit slightly higher than the left panel.

Here's two I made earlier!!  This card could be made in any colour combination for example use navy card and embossing powder and Peeled Paint Distress ink.  I have added a tools and materials list and a cutting guide for this card below.  Hope you have fun with this.  I would love to see your version of this design so don't forget to leave me a comment with a link if you can.

Cutting Guide

5¾” x 11½” Black Card
2 of 5¾” x 2 7/8” Black Card
2 of 5½” x 2 5/8” Lilac Card
5½” x 2 5/8” White Card

Tools List

Paper trimmer
Bone folder and scoreboard

Pencil
Heat Gun
Acrylic Blocks
Craft sheet
Scissors
Stapler
Paint Brush
Dry foam

Materials List

A4 Black Card
A5 Black, Lilac and White Card
Scrap of white coated card stock
Creative Expressions Steam Punk Dreams stamp set
Dusty Concord Distress Ink
4 purple gems
Strip of black ribbon
Perfect Medium Ink Pad
Black Archival Ink Pad
Staples
Purple Pro Marker or Alcohol ink
Stampendous Frantage Silver crushed glitter
Scrap of Sequin waste
Ranger Black Sparkle embossing powder
Glue
Foam Pads Double Sided Tape (DST)