Spring Has Sprung!!

Have I mentioned lately that I am a BIG fan of Karen Burniston? (Queen of Pop Up Dies) Well, she doesn't know it but she has solved a problem for me with her latest post.  She is showing how to increase the size of the Accordion Album.  I have a brand new set of Tim Holtz Stamps that had yet to meet ink and wanted to use them with the Accordion Album.  The stamps were just a little too big but after seeing Karen's project --  PROBLEM SOLVED --

This is also a good one to enter in the Simon Says Challenge this week.  The stamp you love...(but don't use)  I have to admit the only reason I haven't used these stamps is the fact that they are new.

         Here's how I did it!

I needed the inside frame to be 4 1/4" high - so following Karen's directions I marked my die at 2 1/8" and placed the fold of the cardstock on the taped line. I cut the Accordion Die Frame from Stampin Up, Perfect Plum. I wanted 4 sections so of course cut it 4 times.

I then decided that the best color for the center panels was manila so I used some Smead File Folders.  I cut one panel from scrap paper and then scanned it and cut it out with my Wishblade Electronic Die Cutter.  You could also cut them using the die but I was trying to avoid the center fold.  You could also cut them by hand by tracing and cutting.

For the next step I stamped my images with black Versa Fine Ink and then used clear embossing powder and then heat set.  I colored selected sections of each stamp with Prismacolor Pencils and inked the edges of each panel with Perfect Plum ink.

In order to hide the fold line in the outer frame I decided to emboss the center sections.
I had an old AccuCut Pad that I cut with the Tim Holtz Scissors and placed it on top of the folder.  I taped the pad down to the folder so it wouldn't move when going through the machine. After it is run through the machine it is embossed only where the pad was placed.
 

After joining all the sections and adding the stamped images it's time to join the panels with the tabs and embellish, my favorite part.



A few flowers from the Tattered Flower Garland Die, edged with Perfect Plum, and a couple things from my stash - it's good to go.

SPRING HAS SPRUNG - ENJOY !!