Diamond Stair Stepper Card

Hi all.  I have something a bit different for me today and I started this ages ago as a birthday card and I never finished it, and when I came across it again sitting under a lot of other things I thought I would carry on and finish it.  I had got as far as making the base red card and each of the different sized squares which sit point upwards, and I thought I would finish it as a Christmas card instead.  I used some digital papers from a set which I downloaded as freebies ages ago, and I thought the holly and the green and white spotted papers went well together and would look fine on the red base card.  I also used a holly stamp from the John Next Door Box Kit Magazine No. 10, the first time I have used any of the stamps from that kit, and the Mistletoe stamp and embossing folder used here.  

I saw this shaped card used on several sites and it was so long ago that I can't remember whose exactly but I think it may have been a Stamping Up video, but I have measured the piece of card which is 11" long by 51/2" wide, and it is creased at 3", 6", 7 1/2",  9" and 10", and the toppers are 2 1/2", 2 3/4" and 3" square.  I ended up using a couple of toppers from papers which came with a Crafter's Inspiration Magazine No. 6 from which I used the Mistletoe EF.   I picked a sentiment and the candles with holly and to make them a bit more interesting I embossed them using WOW Clear Gloss Embossing Powder.   I added the sentiment on the front panel and decided to add some holly from a set as mentioned above, and it is a silhouette stamp so stamped with some distress inks straight to stamp and cut out putting the the two pieces together.  I then added the candles on the middle one and I embossed a piece of green card to fit on the largest panel inside which I will put the sentiment.  I then stamped the mistletoe in Olympia Green Versafine Ink and cut it out and added it to the green panel and then onto the red.  I have a close up of this panel as it is the main one.  It looks a bit strange as I had to put the other two sections forward to see it better.

I decided to cut two small strips about 1"each which have a valley, then a mountain and then another valley fold at 1/4" intervals, and when creased the outer two pieces are stuck to the front and back of each of the first and middle steppers which keep the steps from opening out too much, so the card takes up less space when stood up and keeps the diamonds more upright so they stand equally apart.  I did find a video by Sam Calcott, but I had already used another, but she explains how to make it really well, and you will find it here.  I'm not sure whether her measurements for this card are the same as mine but it looks much the same.   I finished by adding some gloss on the holly and mistletoe berries.  

Thank you for visiting my blog today and I'll see you again soon. 

I am entering the following challenges:

Merry Little Christmas Challenge - No. 59 Anything Christmas Goes.

Peace on Earth Christmas Challenge - No. 76 Anything Goes/Inspiration Board.

Can You Handle The Pressure Challenge - Nov. 23rd Anything Goes/Winter Fun.

Rudolph Days Challenge - Nov. '24 Anything Goes.
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes.
Allsorts Challenge - Week 808 Ribbon or Twine/Anything Goes.

Love Those Pretty Papers Challenge - Nov.'24 Anything Goes using Pretty Papers.

I am also entering Darnell's I.D.E.A.S.. a challenge she has set herself but has said that anyone can join in.

This is Week 4: Anything Goes.