It's Your Day

I was working on a comission for Die Cutting Essentials this weekend featuring Concord and 9ths Pop Up Book Shoppe - can't share it yet as it's not out until the May issue, however, when I was playing with the Base Shoppe die, I actually thought it would make a fun non-shop house or flat too, so whilst I had it on my desk I made another card with it.

For this one, I stared with a top fold base card (4.5 x 5.75 inch) and then cut a coral coloured "shop" front.  I decided to go bright and cheerful so used a pale lilac to pair with the coral and cut the doors and windows and soffits from it.  I decided not to use the crenellated piece and used the "waste" from the transom windows instead to add interest to the soffit.  The large window does not have a frame, which seemed a shame to me, so I die cut the window from lilac and used a craft knife to cut into the waste to create a frame which fits perfectly.  I added a sheet of acetate behind the shop front to glue the windows onto.  I lauered up the door and flower box and added gold door furniture to the door.  I used the waste from one of door panels to stamp the sentiment onto using a small sentiment from Itty Bitty Birthdays.  I filled the soffit and flower box with greenery and flowers.

I set the shop front aside and then set about filling the inside of my house.  I thought a plump sofa could work for a "put your feet up, it's your day" vibe.   So I used the Take a Seat die from MFT stamps which although another brand, is the perfect size to fit (I do love that we can mix and match brands for different looks!)   I added the table from the Base Die in front and added a vase and leaves from the Serenity Now Die also from MFT which is packed full of interesting little homeware items from vases to tealights and is a really useful set.  I marked the point on the base card where the shop would be glue to ensure my items would show in the window.

Once the inside is attached, it's just a case of ensuring the folds on the shoppe are creased and crisp and then using a strip of strong tape to attache the top and bottom and the "shop" automatically pops but still folds flat for posting.

There are now 4 different shop designs to put inside from books, fashion, cafe and flowers and I'm sure more will come, but you can go "non-shop" too, with the MFT releases could even go full on spa!

Hope that gives you more ideas to stretch your stash.

Happy Crafting

Tara