Hello crafty friends.
Today my goal is to celebrate July 4th using products that are not necessarily patriotic...at first glance.
I'm here with some country Americana style cards for Independence Day featuring a variety of chipboard - both traditional chipboard pieces mixed with shakers sets from Creative Embellishments. I've combined with Authentique paper collections that are definitely not patriotically themed however they work very successfully.
Let's get started. Here are the chipboard pieces used on the cards today:
Creative Embellishments - Classic Pick Up Set
Creative Embellishments - Circle Shaker Set
Creative Embellishments - Boot Shaker
Creative Embellishments - Star Pieces
 Creative Embellishments - Boot Shaker |  Creative Embellishments - Circle Shaker Set |  Creative Embellishments - Classic Pick Up Set |
The boot shaker was fun to turn into a Western Americana piece by adding tiny patterned paper to the sections of the boot. To do this, I used the detailed layer as the bottom glued to the base. Typically, I'd use that detailed layer for the top, but in adding the patterned paper it no longer worked as a transparent shaker window.
If you are wondering what the best glue is for assembling the chipboard shakers, I recommend something that has a strong bond, dries clear, is used on multiple surfaces, and has a fine tip for dispensing thin lines of glue. I have a few brands I like.
I chose some unusual Authentique papers to create the cards. Authentique papers are super versatile and the cards I created show this quite perfectly. I combined papers from two collections : Authentique's Manly collection and Voyage collection. I also combined the 12" x 12" sheets with the 6"patterns.
Here are the papers used on my two cards today:
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Here is my second card. This is also a shaker card but with an old vintage looking pickup truck as the focal piece. I love the tiny star patterned papers from the 6x6 Voyage collection. The pickup, circle and decorative star pieces are from Creative Embellishments. I think the chipboard accents help make the fabulous patterned paper pop.
The chipboard treatment on the pickup was fun to make. I used a variety of inks and paint markers to color the car (Fired Brick and Aged Mahogany) and blending brushes to color the reds in the truck. Next I gave the truck accents of white, silver and black using a combination of products from sharpie markers to inks.
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The stars were embossed with gold embossing powder and backed with Authentique paper.
The sequin shaker mix used on both shaker cards is from Buttons Galore and More/ 28 Lilac Lane. This mix is called: Golden Sequin Mix in Cello Bag and is a beautiful vintage gold.
