Krafty Chicks challenge #717 - All Occasions

Good morning friends; it's Thursday so that means it's time for a new challenge over at Krafty Chicks challenge.  This week is Week 4 so the lovely Lori is our hostess and our theme is 'All Occasions', so you have free rein to create whatever you like.  

I was inspired by a card I saw recently in a video by Gina K Designs.  She made a gatefold card and I thought I hadn't made one of those for a while.  I deviated slightly as I made a bellyband for my card to keep it closed.  There are quite a few photos today (sorry) as I wanted to show all the different aspects!

Here is my card:

The card without the bellyband:

The card & bellyband together:

A close up of the flower:

I decorated the inside:

I also decorated the envelope:

I began by creating my gatefold card by cutting my white card 8 1/2" x 5 1/2" and scoring the long side at 2 1/8" and 6 3/8".  I had already created my background using the letterpress embossing folder technique using teal ink so cut the background into 2 strips, each 1 7/8" x 5 5/8".  I also cut 2 black mat panels slightly larger and added them to my card with double sided tape.  I die cut the flower outline with black card and the base layer in white card and then ink blended the white layer using teal ink pads.  I made the bellyband by cutting my white card 1 1/2" x 11 3/4" and folded it around the card.  Before adhering the ends together I stamped my sentiment in black ink on the left side of the front.  I then adhered the ends with red liner tape.  I added the flower to the right side of the belly band.  Once I removed the bellyband I thought the card looked a little bare so cut another flower and also cut 2 leaf dies from black card.   I carefully placed the flower onto the card just slightly overlapping the join of the card and tucked the leaves underneath.  I wanted the flower on the bellyband to hide the one on the card so that it would be a surprise when you removed the bellyband and thankfully, for once, my plan worked lol.  For the inside I cut a white card panel and black mat layer and adhered them together with double sided tape.  I added a thin strip of the background to the top and bottom of the white panel, added a black leaf to the bottom right and stamped a sentiment to the centre in black ink.  As I had some strips left of the background I decided to decorate my envelope too.  I'm really happy with how this turned out and it's nice to make something different for a change.  

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:

Addicted to Stamps & More challenge - birthdays

A Place to Start challenge - ATG option: for a lady

Aud Sentiments challenge - foiling and/or flowers + sentiment

Beautiful Blossoms challenge - anything floral goes optional mood board

Craft Rocket challenge - flowers

Creative Creases challenge - ATG with a fun fold (stamped sentiments)

Creative Inspirations challenge - feminine

Cut It Up challenge - send me flowers

Get Creative challenge - ladies only

Papercraft challenges - flower power

Shopping Our Stash challenge - how does your garden grow (13 challenges max)

Unicorn challenge - for the girls

I hope you will be able to join us for our 'All Occasions' challenge and I cannot wait to see your creations in our linky.  Please leave some love for my fellow chicks - Leanne, Diane and Lori and also our guest designer for May, Rachelle. 

Thanks for stopping by. 

Love and hugs, 

Card ingredients:

Gina K Designs - fresh cut flowers dies

Gina K Designs - perfect posy stamp (for outside sentiment)

Gina K Designs - tapestry EF

Gina K Designs - on the inside stamp (for inside sentiment)

Gina K Designs - ink pads - sea glass, tranquil teal, turquoise sea

Limetree Crafts - 250gsm silky smooth white card

Hobbycraft - A4 black card