4th of July Card with Washi tape and Paper Straws

It's almost that time of year again!!! 4th of July!!! I love this holiday, yes to celebrate our independence but also because of all the excitement that surrounds it. I love the fireworks, the colors, how people show their patriotism and the family gatherings. I think the 4th of July should be a week long celebration!!!

 In this month's project for The Bug Bytes design team, I am using paper straws and Washi tape. These two things are new to me in my crafting experience and I wanted to see what I could do with them.

Here's the front of my card

Here's the inside

 I have a bad habit of not sketching out my cards.  That is probably why it takes me so dang long to finish one!!!  I just tend to go with what comes to mind. I decided that I wanted to change a cut file in the Silhouette store to a Print and Cut file. I chose this Eagle banner. I cut out the banner but then I had no idea where to go from there.

So played around with another cut for the back ground, but I couldn't get it to come together so I trashed it! 

 I didn't want to waste all those cute little stars so I used them to go on top of the straws.  I colored them with my Copic markers.  Then I cut 3 pieces of straws at 2.25 inches and adhered them to the back of the banner, with my glue gun.

 The straws will act as pop-up dots for your image.

Next I stamped fireworks onto to the front of the card and added my Washi tape at the top and bottom.

Then I placed the banner and straws on top of the card.  You can see how the straws lift the image off of the page for that dimensional look.

For the inside, I cut out the phrase "Happy 4th of July" with my Cameo. I stamped on a few stars and a flag.  I cut another straw at 4.25 inches, flattened it out with my brayer and used it as an accent on the bottom.

 

 Again, the Paper straws and Washi tape is new to me, but I am thoroughly enjoying incorporating them into my crafts.  I am finding that when a card seems to be just "missing something" a little Washi or a decorative Paper straw goes a long way!!

 

 

See ya' next month and have a Happy 4th of July!!!