Nice and Easel Does It!

 I've seen them all over the place, of course, but not actually sat down to have a go for myself, but our lovely Paula decided it was time the Daring Cardmakers featured these on our blog and set this challenge this week, and she's made it a bit of a Double Dare

 Easel Does it
This weeks challenge is to make an easel card. There's a big clue in the title, huh?
They are so very popular at the moment but I'm hoping at least some of you will be up for my extra "sting in the tail" to this Dare - I don't want it to be too easy, you know....what I'd really love is to see what type of shape (other than a square) you can come up with using the basic Easel card idea.
So you can go for the easy option and make the simple version of the easel card, or if you're brave enough,go for the shaped option.  
Do you dare?:

Well, I'd never made an Easel card until a couple of days ago, but now I've made two.  I'd started the first of these before I read Paula's notes properly and noticed the extra "shaped" element she's sneaked in there.

Actually though, having never made one before it was probably a good thing to practise by making the simple version first anyway!  As the pile of scrap that went in the bin can testify.

So, here's my card for the "double dare" - an easel card which isn't square - though technically I guess it's still based on the square version, now I think about it....

These fabulously BRIGHT papers are Bo Bunny's "Flower Child" collection. I cut out lots of the flowers from the various papers to make a big potful then arranged them above the pot shape and over the "hinge" of the card so that they stand nigher than the fold (I've not actually checked it'll fit in an envelope yet hehe).  

 You don't need to cut complete shapes out for all the flowers in a bunch like this - you can use lots of "half-flowers" from the edges of the paper, for the ones further back on your design, then just cut out a few of the whole shapes where the entire flower will be seen (got to save some for another day ;)).

I added matching Bo Bunny fabric flowers to the mix, then some buttons, a few beads and some Glossy Accents.

 To make the ridge that keeps it all from falling flat I cut a panel from the same paper used on the inside of the card, adhered first to a layer of scrap card and then to the base section, for extra stability I added some buttons and topped those with Stickles.

The little sentiment is one from the rub on sheets I printed out a few months ago - I was experimenting with a few coloured ones and this just happened to match perfectly.

 My second card, which was actually the first one I made (well half of it anyway....).  

The papers this time are more of the SEI "Claire" collection - they are lovely papers, some are pearlised and some are foiled - the flowers on the background paper of this card all have silvery outlines and really catch the light.

The large flower is made using handmade paper - it's the same as those in my flower tutorial a couple of posts down.  There's a fabric flower with a wired rose on it and then a couple of other flowers made with scraps of paper from the "Claire" collection.

I've used a MS border punch on one of the striped papers, then mounted this on a narrow strip of card to make the wedge that keeps the card upright.

The sentiment oval is a Nesties die and the flowers and brad on the base of the card are also from the "Claire" collection.

I cut Rachel's name suing my Craft Robo.  The name and mat were made using PSP so that they would fit together perfectly.

I know I say it every week, but the Daring Cardmakers team have created some amazing cards for Paula's challenge this week, so please check them out.  If you made a card for Keryn's dare last week, the winner of our prize draw is there too.

If like me you've never made an easel card, don't let that stop you joining in - just go to You Tube and type in "easel card" and you'll find loads of little videos showing how to make them - that's what I did, anyway!

Thanks for visiting and please don't disappear without leaving a comment - I do get round  (eventually...) to the blogs of everyone who leaves a message  and it's lovely to visit them all.

Now I think it's cappuccino time!