CottageCutz: Tiered Accordion Farm Card

Happy Friday friends!

It's Kris sharing with you today. I've made what I call a Tiered Accordion Card in a farm theme and I love how this turned out!! So much so that I want to make a couple more, so I need to get more farm papers a.s.a.p.! I'm featuring the Farm Cow Peeker, the Farm Pig Peeker, and the Cowgirl Chick dies.

I made up my own measurements for this 5" x 7" card, however.... it's a super tight fit into a 5-1/4" x 7-1/4" envelope because of the bulk, so next time I will make this 4-3/4" x 6-3/4". I will go ahead and give you the measurements I should have created this at, not what I actually made it so you can easily fit it into a 5x7 envelope. ☺

The patterned paper is all from the Down on the Farm by Doodlebug Design. The sentiment is from the Cow's it Going? stamp set by La-La Land Crafts.

DESIGN STEPS:

1. Cut 4 pieces of white cardstock: (back to front)

• 6-3/4" x 4-3/4"

• 7-1/2" x 4-1/2" - score at 1/2", 1", and 1-1/2" on each end parallel to short side

• 7-1/2" x 3-1/4" - same as above

• 7-1/2" x 2" - same as above

2. Cut Designer Paper: (from back to front)

• 4-1/2" x 6-1/2" (or 6" if you are using 6" dp - leave the gap at the bottom)

• 4-1/4" x 4-1/4"

• 4-1/4" x 3"

• 4-1/4" x 1-3/4"

3. I also cut the paper that has strips of different patterns and trimmed the one on back layer (farm scene) at 4-1/2" and the other 3 at 4-1/4" wide.

***TIP: If you don't like the look of the white flaps showing on top of the designer paper (see 5 photos down) then NOW is the time to make that change. Simply adhere the tiered panels before you adhere the designer papers.

4. I glued the strips to the tops of each coordinating designer paper, then adhered to the white coordinating panels, leaving an even white space all around (except the largest one as my dp was only 6", so I left larger space at the bottom that will be covered up. Fold and burnish score lines on 3 smaller panels.

5. To attach the accordion panels, start with the tallest one, add double sided adhesive or glue to the outter flap. Ahere it by aligning the bottom with the bottom of card base, and so the first score line is at the edge of the base designer paper (not the edge of white card base). Repeat on opposite end.

6. For the middle sized panel, align the first score line with the white edge of previous panel (not the dp as you did with the first panel). Repeat or the shortest panel.

Now it's time to decorate!!

7. Die cut animals from white and color with Copics and Distress inks or medium of your choice.

8. For the pig and cow, I cut a long strip of thick white cardstock and attached to back of animal for sturdiness. I then added tape to the front of white strip and attached it behind the tiered panel.

9. Die cut the flag banner from the Windows Slimline set from the designer paper that has all the bandana squares on it.

10. Die cut the sentiment from the smallest Pierced Circles set, then adhere to blue banner. Adhere to top of card base and ... DONE!

I just LOVE how this turned out!! Like I said, I would make those 2 changes (1/4" smaller w & h) and I would attach my papers over the flaps when adhering my tiered panels. But overall, these COTTAGECUTZ dies make the cutest cards for this farm-lovin' girl!!

Thanks so much for stopping by! I hope you get crafty with your favorite CottageCutz dies!

~Kristine