Party Bus Birthday Card

My youngest daugther will be turning 21 this week, so I wanted to make a special card for her birthday. She's stationed in San Diego, so I won't get to see her on her birthday, but I hope she feels the love from home! If you're reading this, Emily, just know you are treasured and Dad and I feel so blessed to be your parents!

The card design is based on an idea from Lisa Curcio found in this video: (1) Learn How to Make a Double Flap Fun Fold Card for Christmas - YouTube. I needed to modify it slightly so I could have a longer front panel, but the bottom base card measurements are the same as in the video. 

I chose some fun pattern papers for the card and then used cream card stock for the stamped and die cut images. The bus, animals, "It's your birthday, bus-t out all the stops" sentiment, and birthday desserts all come from Art Impressions' Bus Cubbies set. I just love this set, and my daughter is a big fan of giraffes, so I was so glad there was one in the set! I won the set over at the Art Impressions blog where they hold bi-weekly challenges. Thanks, Art Impressions! 

I created a top-fold mini card using the bus die and then stamped the front of the mini card using the coordinating stamp. I recently bought a Sizzix stamp and stencil platform that has a sticky mat on the base, and it worked great to hold the die cuts in place as I stamped them (I die cut the bus and all the elements and then put the paper with the die cut frames into the platform and then placed all the stamps over the coordinating holes in the paper before putting the die cut pieces back in the frames and stamping them all at once. It worked great!). I then colored the stamped images with Ohuhu alcohol markers before I glued them in place on the bus. I added foam tape to the wheels to pop them up a bit. 

This time I remembered to add the ribbon to the top card (see my previous post for my first try with this card design 😂) so the top card will stay closed when the ribbon is tied shut. I glued the ribbon to the inside of the bus being careful to place it where it doesn't show through the bus windows. 

When you lift the flap to see inside the bus, the sentiment "It's your birthday, Bus-t out all the stops" and the darling little koala can be seen. I love that the doors on the bus are scored so they actually open! So clever!

Here's a look at the card when closed:

The koala bear is peeking through the bus doors:

 

Here you can see the koala bear waving when the bus doors are open:

  

When you lift the flap of the bus, you can see the sentiment:

Close up of the sentiment:

Here's what you see when you open the front flap: 

Here's what you see when you open the second flap:

Each of the inner panels opens up to reveal more birthday sentiments:

Challenges I'm entering:

Art Impressions Blog: All Wrapped Up! Challenge #358 Week 1 (artimpressionsstamps.blogspot.com): All wrapped up (I used ribbon to tie the card shut and also thread on the balloons) (1/2; ends 8/31/23)

Anything Goes with a Fun Fold for Creative Creases #64 (secretstamper.com): ATG with a fun fold (unlimited entries; ends 9/1/23)

Word Art Wednesday: ATG (3/5 for the week; 3/10 for the challenge; ends 8/30/23)

The Paper Shelter: ATG (2/2; ends 8/22/23)

I ♥ ProMarkers Challenge Blog (ilovepromarkers.blogspot.com): ATG with alcohol markers (I used Ohuhu markers) (2/3; ends 9/5/23)

Passion for Markers (promarkerchallenge.blogspot.com): Embellish It (unlimited entries; ends 8/29/23) Top 5 Pick 8/29/23

Digi Choosday Cardmaking & Crafting Challenge: ATG (2/2; ends 8/29/23)

A Place To Start (hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com): ATG with a twist of leaves and/or trees (unlimited entries; ends at the end of the month)

613 Avenue Create (avenue613.blogspot.com): ATG (2/8; ends at the end of the month)

Stamping Sensations: Moodboard or ATG (I chose ATG) (1/3; ends at the end of the month)

We Love Stamping: Masculine or ATG (1/3; ends at the end of the month)

Gem of A Craft Challenge (pinkgemchallengeblog.blogspot.com): ATG (2/3; ends 9/1/23)

Allsorts challenge blog: All creatures great and small (1/3; ends 8/26/23) Top Ten Pick 8/25/23

Polkadoodles Cardmaking, Craft & Scrapbooking Challenge: ATG (2/2; ends 9/1/23) Winner 9/2/23 Email sent 9/2/23 (Bella Bear Hot Chocolate, Sugar Hit, Chossing the Christmas Tree)

Craft Rocket Challenges: Animals (ends at the end of the month)

Tic Tac Toe Challenge - Inspiring creativity 8-ways each week: Top row: Red, patterned paper, die cuts (1/3; ends 8/24/23) 

Scribble Challenge (rabiscochallenge.blogspot.com): Birthday (2/5; ends at the end of the month)

{PIN}spirational Challenges (pinspirationalchallenges.blogspot.com): Birthday + animals (1/5; ends at the end of the month)

The Diva's that cut ....paper!: Beginning of a Poppystamps Month (die-cut-divas.blogspot.com): Pop up creations (1/4; ends at the end of the  month)

Critter Crazy CHALLENGE BLOG (2craftycrittercrazies.blogspot.com): Animals as the focus (1/5; ends at the end of the month)

Crafty Animals: ATG with animals (ends at the end of the month)

Creative Fingers Challenge Blog: ATG (3/3; ends 9/6/23)

Papercraft Challenges (papercraft-challenges.blogspot.com): Shaped cards (unlimited entries; ends 9/14/23)