Light Up The House

 I have made this simple easel card for an uncle who is about to celebrate his birthday.  Whilst you would think that a lighthouse evokes seaside and summer, they are there all year round and make fabulous cards for gentlemen.  This particular card is using one of the very detailed Michael Powell stamps, and coloured in using ProMarkers......don't look too carefully as it isn't as neat as I would have liked, but I'm pleased with the overall effect.

If you've not made an easel card before, they are very simple, but effective.  The main 'rule' is to fold a card in half, then fold the front half, in half again, creating the easel, and use foam pads to add a greeting to the inside, to anchor the front face behind.......

 This is the side view.
So.....I began with a sheet of A4, trimmed to approximately 15 cms across the width.  I scored this in half, making roughly a 15cms square (it is slightly under one way as an A4 is not 30 cms long)  The front half was scored and folded again (i. 2 quarters approx 7.5 cms each)  The waste from the A4 ca be used to make a matt for your picture and also your greeting tag.

 I doubled mounted mine, selecting another colour that toned with the patterned paper I had used.  When you stick your picture matt down, remember to only apply adhesive to lower part and stick it to the very first quarter, otherwise it won't stand up as in the picture above.

This is folded flat for posting.
When colouring I selected colours to compliment the patterned paper I had used, so that it all toned.

Inside I stamped a verse onto some more paper, and edged with the same ink I had stamped everything else in.  I stamped a greeting onto some more paper and double mounted that as I had my picture.  I then applied 3D foam pads and positioned it towards the bottom of the back face.  By using the 3D foam, it raises the greeting making it a better anchor.  You might wish to hold your picture at the angle you want it to stand up, to give you an idea of where to place the greeting.  If you move it further up the card, it will stand more upright.  There is no right or wrong, it's what you are happiest with.
Christine