Back in August last year, I saw a gorgeous, eclectic card created to congratulate Steffi Helmschrott for achieving 2M career-to-date sales.  The design had a fun surprise pull-out, which I have recreated using the beautiful Sand & Sea Suite.  First, here is the front of this friendship birthday card...

Bundles: Friends Are Like Seashells Stamp Set + Seaside Seashells Dies (photopolymer: 156205). Stamps: Happy Thoughts (cling: 154507). Ink: Sahara Sand (147117), Seaside Spray (150085), Misty Moonlight (153118). Card/Paper: Seaside Spray (150889), Basic White 12” x 12” (159231), Basic White Thick (159230), Basic White (159228), Sand & Sea Designer Series Paper (154288). Accessories: Opal Rounds (154289), Seaside Spray 1/2” Scalloped Linen Ribbon (149707), Linen Thread (104199), Frost White Shimmer Paint (147046). Tools: Stampin’ Cut & Emboss Machine (149653), Seashells 3D Embossing Folder (154309), Classic Label Punch (141491), Timeless Label Punch (149516), Blending Brushes (153611), Sponge Daubers (133773), Tombow Multipurpose Liquid Glue (110755), Mini Stampin’ Dimensionals (144108), Stampin’ Dimensionals (104430). Other: Stapler.

I love the coordination between the Friends Are Like Seashells stamp set, Seaside Seashells Dies, and Seashells 3D Embossing Folder that, together, created the gorgeous textured panel on the card front.

To recreate this card front, firstly die-cut the large seashell scene from Basic White cardstock and stamp the five matching seashell stamps in Sahara Sand ink into their allocated space.  Then emboss the die-cut shape with the Seashells 3D Embossing Folder, which aligns to the shape perfectly!  Use Blending Brushes to apply Seaside Spray and Sahara Sand ink on the top and bottom of a piece of Basic White cardstock that is sized to fit the card front.  And then, finally, overlay that lovely, textured die-cut over the top.

Friends Are Like Seashells Stamp Set + Seaside Seashells Dies Bundle (156205) - $113.25

Seashells 3D Embossing Folder (154309) - $19.00

I die-cut, stamped, and embossed another piece of Basic White cardstock with the seashell scene, and then snipped the joins to free five individual shells.  I used the little ones on the card front, and then the three larger ones on the inside...

Oooh, do you see that little ribbon tab that screams, "pull me"?

Surprise!  This is such a fun card to make and it is sure to bring a smile to the face of its recipient.  Here are some more shots of the inside of the surprise opening card...

After this birthday surprise opening card was created, the Last-Chance Product Sale was announced and the list of retiring products from the current annual catalogue released.  On that list is the much-loved and soon-to-be-missed Seaside Spray In Color and the Classic Label Punch, both integral to the creation of this surprise opening card.  The products in the Last-Chance Product Sale are only available while supplies last and the Classic Label Punch and some of the Seaside Spray products have now sold out.  Don't miss out on any of your favourites...

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