AAA Birthday challenge - DT card

Good morning lovely friends and welcome to February! As it's the first of the month it means we have a brand new challenge over at AAA Birthday challenge. This month's theme is 'slimline' and our guest designer again this month is Cathy R. so please pop over to her blog and leave her some love.

I don't make slimline cards very often, not really sure why, although they can be a bit tricky to photograph.   I had a fun image in mind when making my card so went with the larger sized slimline (4" x 9") so that it would fit.  You could of course make a mini slimline which is about 3 1/4" x 6 1/4", although they can be anything from 3" x 6" to 3 1/2" x 6 1/2" depending on which brand of dies you use.   I hope you like it.

Here is my card:

A closer look at the fun image:

Plus I decorated the inside:

I began by creating my card base from white card; I cut my piece to 8" x 9" and scored it at 4" on the 8" side.  I used master layouts 10 and die cut a white stitched panel and mat layer panel from dark brown card (although it looks black in my photos).  I used a fun tiger print stencil to create my background but of course I had to move the stencil down to fill the whole panel but as this is quite an open pattern it did leave a noticeable line in the middle which I didn't like.  I tried adding strips of the brown card and twine to try and mask the line but it didn't work for me so I finally decided to die cut the smaller panel from the die set and stencil that with the tiger print.  I also die cut the mat layer for this smaller panel and adhered them together with liquid glue.  I adhered the larger panels with liquid glue and then placed the smaller panel in the middle with liquid glue.  I think it looks more intentional now and not like a mistake.  I stamped the adorable giraffe image, coloured him with Promarkers and fussy cut him out.  I stamped the personalised message onto his 'board' with black ink. I added some scrap white card behind the panel and then adhered this onto the card base with double sided tape.  I added the giraffe with foam squares, added some die cut stars and some gold pearls for a finishing touch.  For the inside I cut another white stitched panel and brown mat layer.  I stencilled the bottom of the white panel with the tiger print stencil, added a strip of the brown card above and a few die cut stars with liquid glue.  I stamped the sentiment in the centre with black ink and then adhered the panel to the card base with double sided tape. 

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

613 Avenue Create challenge - ATG optional twist animal magic

Allsorts challenge - create your own background

Crafter's Cafe challenge - one for the boys

Crafty Animals challenge - ATG must include an animal

Creative Crafting Uncles challenge - happy birthday

Critter Crazy challenge - ATG with a featured critter

Girlz and the Art of Letters challenge - s is for slimline

The Design Team have created amazing cards as always so please pop over to the blog and check them out and perhaps leave them some love on their personal blogs.

I hope you will be able to join in with the challenge this month but don't forget it has to be birthday themed. I can't wait to see your creations in the linky.

Love and hugs,

card supplies:

Woodware - party giraffe stamp

Promarkers

Uniko - tiger print stencil

*Gina K Designs - master layouts 10 die set

Gina K Designs - honey mustard ink pad

Gina K Designs - grand gentleman stamp

Gina K Designs - gold, black and silver metallic pearl mix 

Gina K Designs - on the inside - birthday stamp

Clearly Besotted Stamps - happy birthday all 

MFT - blueprints 13 (for stars)

Limetree Crafts - 280gsm silky smooth card - not currently available but there are alternatives here and here

Limetree Crafts - dark chocolate 300gsm card

Versafine Clair - nocturne ink pad

*I now have an Affiliate Link for the Gina K Designs store. If you are considering making a purchase I would appreciate you using my link as it will earn me a small commission at no extra cost to you. 
Thank you x