Cherry Blossom Branches Thank You Card
by Anne Thompson

I'm continuing my pursuit of finding interesting folded cards, and I have a fun and easy one for today's post.

I used medium blue double-sided striped and dotted papers from COTTAGE STRIPES AND DOTS PP1004, a bright blue glitter paper from the TWINKLING JEWEL GLITTER PAD GP1003, and white cardstock to make the layers in this card.  The blue glitter paper embellishments are multiple CHERRY BLOSSOM BRANCHES 94434 with tiny white pearls in the centers of the blossoms.

Directions

• Start with a piece of cardstock 8 1/2 X 11.  I used white, but you could use any color that coordinates with whatever printed papers you choose to use.
• Cut it at 4 1/4.
• Score the 4 1/4 X 11 piece of cardstock at 5 1/2.
• Cut off 2 3/4 from the front.  Save the piece that you cut off because that will become the horizontal front panel on top of the now smaller card front.  

• Cut all of your printed papers to go on the various panels.  One piece at 5 1/4 X 4 will be the inside of the card.  Cut two pieces each 2 1/2 X 4 for the outside and inside of the front of the card.

• Layer the papers on the white card base.
• Take that piece that you cut off in the fourth step.  Add a printed paper panel 2 1/2 X 4 and a white cardstock panel 2 1/4 X 3 3/4 on top of that.  You might want to do any stamping before gluing down the white panel.
• Remember when you add this to the card to put adhesive only on the part of the panel that attaches to the card front.

• Add one more white cardstock piece inside the card 2 1/2 x 3 3/4.  Snug it up near the fold so it will be hidden by the front flap.  Again you might want to do any stamping before gluing down the white panel.

At this point stamping and decorating can be anything you want it to be.  I used die cuts of Cherry Blossom Branches but any of the Memory Box floral dies would work.  I chose stamps from the WILD ROSE STEM CL5258 for the sentiments inside and out on this card, stamped with Versafine Onyx Black ink.  I should mention here that the Wild Rose Stem clear stamp set also comes with coordinating dies if you order CL5258-D.

I had an extra Cherry Blossom Branch which I added on the back of the large tab.  (I should probably admit that I did that to cover an ink smudge which I was able to hide under one of the blossoms.  "Mistakes" are good excuses for using more embellishments!)

I know that this is a card my mom will take for her stash.  She celebrated her 91st birthday on Saturday and has used up most of the thank you cards I had made before this one.   

We are still staying home except for occasional trips to the small local grocery store and the self-serve farm stand though many more businesses in other towns near us are beginning to open.  Hope that wherever you are you're staying safe and finding time to make things.

Happy Crafting!