8th birthday "celebr 8" shaker card

Shaker cards are so much fun - interactive and sparkly too!!!

Eight balloons for a GR8 birthday :)

Check out that CUTE smiley face :)

The card is a tall A5 size (8 1/4" high).  I confess that I trimmed off the "stepper" part from the front of a blank A5 Stepper Card Base by Fundamentals (Ruby Rock-It).  I LOVE this size, it is a top fold and the cardstock is so sturdy.

I used Paper Smooches Pinked Circles, Balloons, Big Balloons & Birthday Words dies and 4mm & 6mm Sparkling Clear, Raspberry & Cobalt sequins from Pretty Pink Posh.  This is the second shaker card I have made and I still have more to learn to make them better, full details in the tutorial below.

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I have entered my card in the

Sparkle and Shine Challenge FOUR: Sketch Inspiration
on the Sparkle and Shine Challenge Blog

  

Entries close 11:55pm EST Saturday 25th April 2015

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I have also entered my card in the

Craftin Desert Diva's Craft It Up & Link It Up Shaker Linky Party

Entries close 12pm Arizona MST Sunday 26th April 2015

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I have also entered my card in the

FUSION {Elegance} challenge on the FUSION Challenge Blog

Here is the inspiration pic & challenge badge

 

My card is a FUSION of the inspiration photo and the sketch.

The sparkling clear sequins remind me of the crystal ware too.

Linky closes noon PST Tuesday 21st April 2015

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I have also entered my card in

Challenge #83 - No Digis or Stamped Images

on the Simply Create Too Challenge Blog

This challenge starts 10th April and ends 24th April 2015

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Here is my tutorial for creating this card.

1. Cut the cobalt blue cardstock mat, patterned paper & accent strips to size and set in place - do not adhere yet
2. Align the largest die from the Paper Smooches Pinked Circles die set over the accent strips & patterned paper to where the shaker window will be, secure in place over the top accent strip & patterned paper with Washi Tape, die cut (I used my Big Shot) then carefully remove the tape so that the paper or cardstock doesn't tear.  Layer the accent strips together and carefully trip the lower strip so that it doesn't show from under the die cut section of the top strip.  I kept the lower strip separate so that the other two layers would cut cleanly with the die, didn't want to overload the die or my Big Shot sandwich.
3. Adhere the accent strips to the patterned paper.
4. Adhere a section of acetate to the window.  I used Tombow Mono Multi Liquid Adhesive.
5. Cut a sheet of foam slightly smaller than the patterned paper panel, mark the window and cut out an area slightly larger than the pinked window.  I cut mine too large and later regretted it, because all the sequins are not visible.
6. Cut white cardstock to the same size as the patterned paper.
7. Adhere the white cardstock to the blue mat.
8. Adhere the foam sheet to the white layer, ensuring the window is in the right position.  I used Helmar 450 Quick Dry because I find it is easier to align layers with a liquid adhesive and this is a strong, clear glue that dries fast and secures different surfaces together well, just like a hot glue gun without the burns.  Make sure that the layers are pressed down evenly so that there are no bulges of glue underneath.
9. Fill the well with sequins - I used a mix of 4mm & 8mm Sparkling Clear, Raspberry & Cobalt sequins from Pretty Pink Posh.
10. Adhere the patterned paper on top of the foam sheet, ensuring the edges & window are aligned.
11. Cut assorted balloons using Paper Smooches Balloons die set.  I also used the smiley face from the Paper Smooches Big Balloons die set on one of the balloons then layered it so that the smiley face was clearly visible.  Tie thread to each balloon and knot three times, I found that a double knot started to come loose during handling.
12. Secure the balloons in place, some flat against the card, others on foam squares for dimension.
13. Draw the balloon strings together, knot & secure with a brad.  This is why I didn't adhere the mat to the card base earlier, so the brad is pushed through the layers and well hidden from behind without any bulges.
14. Cut several sets of the "celebrate" word from the Paper Smooches Birthday Words die set.  Because I wanted to do a play on words for this 8th birthday card, I only used the "celebr" portion, laying several together for dimension, adhering with Tombow Mono Multi.  I used the negative to align the letters while adhering them together and to the patterned paper.
15. Adhere the finished panel to the card base.