Nativity Bridge Card

It's always fun to learn a new technique.  My card today actually has two techniques that I just learned -- a fun-fold and a background.  CottageCutz has a whole bunch of new Christmas dies, which will be available on their website on September 20th.  I used two of them on my card -- Away in a Manger and We Wish You a Merry Christmas.

The background technique I recently learned is called Galaxy Background, which looks like it would be much more difficult than it actually is.  To create the background you sponge various colors of Distress ink onto white cardstock.  The colors I used, in order, are: 1) Mermaid Lagoon; 2) Peacock Feathers; 3) Chipped Sapphire; 4) Seedless Preserves; and 5) Black Soot.  During the process you'll wonder how this process can possibly look good; but, be patient, it comes together at the end.  As you can see, each of the colors is sponged sparingly so as not to overtake the previous layer.  When you get to the Black Soot, however, you lightly cover the entire card.  After sponging is completed, put a little bit of white acrylic paint on an acrylic block and dilute it slightly with water, mixing it together with a small paint brush.  Then flick the paint brush against the side of your finger to splash the paint onto the entire area.  Here is a photo of the six steps involved.  You can see how the colors build upon each other.

Now you can start your card.  Cut a piece of heavy weight white cardstock 4 1/4" x 8"  and score at 1 1/4", 2 1/2", 5 1/2", and 6 3/4".

My background piece was originally a white piece of cardstock 4" x 6 3/4".  Cut the sky pieces as follows:  a 1" strip, a second 1" strip, a 2 3/4" strip, and another 1" strip, leaving one final 1" strip.

Fold the card base as shown in the photo -- very similar to a double gate-fold card.

Adhere the sky pieces to each section of the card base.

Cut the sentiment and Nativity border.  I used glitter paper for each element -- pale blue for the sentiment and silver for the border.

Glue the sentiment onto the center section of the card, with the star extending just slightly off the top.  When adhering the Nativity border, just apply glue to the ends of the die cut.  Lay the card flat, with just the left side folded on the score lines.  Adhere the left side first, and then span the center and adhere the right side.

As you can see, the card will lie flat for mailing; but, when you fold both sides up, it will stand with the Nativity border "bridging" between the two end panels.  You can see in the following photos the 3-D look of this card.

Here again is the card from the front.

I hope you give these fun techniques a try.  I'm really hooked on that Galaxy Background!  

CottageCutz dies used on my card are: