Card Duo

It's a twofer from me today... two cards using the same images from the same stamp set. I stamped and heat-embossed them in gold, then coloured them with lovely bright hues that really pop against the black backgrounds. Definitely a bright and cheerful project!

 

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Wren and Blossoms

I like to think that I don't have lots of bits and pieces lying around in the craft room. In my mind, I cut and stamp exactly what I need for my project, and then move on to the next creation. But the truth is, I have a couple of little drawers filled with stamped images, sentiments, some fussy cutting, bits of cardstock, etc... I think you get the picture. I don't visit those drawers too often, but today I decided to drag some of the bits into the light to see what I could make with them.

Tutorial - Quick and Easy II

I like to have a few quick and easy card making recipes up my sleeve for those occasions when I'm a bit pressed for time. Similar to the card I showed you last month, this one also uses an all over stamping design, but with heat embossing to add contrast, rather than colour.

1. You'll need an A5 card base (I used kraft), a 10cm x 14.3cm piece of contrasting cardstock (I used white), and a 9.7cm x 14cm piece of the same cardstock you used for the base. You'll also need a stamp, Versamark stamp pad, and white embossing powder.

2. Stamp and heat emboss your image on the 9.7cm x 14cm piece of cardstock. I recommend placing it in one of the four corners of your cardstock - top right, top left, bottom right, or bottom left. As you can see from the photo below, I chose the bottom right.

3. Now choose an ink pad that is similar in colour to your card base. I'm using Desert Sand by Memento, which is the closest colour I have to my kraft cardstock. (NOTE: If you don't have a matching ink pad, you can use clear Versamark ink. You'll need to dry it with a heat gun or emboss with clear powder)

4. Working outward from the embossed image, stamp using the matching ink pad. Turn the stamp so that it looks different each time you make an impression. Allow the image to extend beyond the edges of the panel.

5. Now secure the stamped panel to the white cardstock, and then onto your card base.

6. Finish with a sentiment and embellishments of your choosing.

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Happy Accident

Believe it or not, the background on this card was largely a mistake. I was attempting to add a very subtle inked edge around the white cardstock, but didn't realise just how juicy my ink pad was! The only solution was to double down by adding more ink and a few random word stamps.

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Birthday Bird

Feathered Nest is the very first clear stamp set I designed and manufactured.

I still enjoy using the set, particularly with watercolour paper and distress inks. Add in a pretty embossed background, some sparkly rhinestones and a shiny, silver sentiment and you have a beautiful card for a special someone.

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Make 'em Pop!

Have you tried this technique yet? Bright colours on a dark background?

I personally prefer black, but you could also opt for a deep blue, green or purple.

Start by colouring the image or images and then add your background with dark coloured marker.

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Green and Gold

A piece of pretty green paper makes a nice contrast for the yellow magnolias. I also added a white embossed sentiment and some little drops of Nuvo paint.

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Fault Line Card

Have you tried the fault line technique to create a card? It involves tearing a sheet (or two) of patterned paper in half and securing them to your card front with a gap between. Another colour or pattern is visible through that gap giving a nice contrast and highlighting the "fault".

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Pretty in Pink

A pretty magnolia image framed with delicate cherry blossoms.

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Magnolia Gap Card

The large magnolia branch is perfect for bridging the space on the front of a gap card. The flower and the long sentiment I added, hold the two sides of the card together so that it opens as one piece.

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Simply Circles

I've been wanting to try this technique for ages, but always forget about it when I sit at my craft table. It's a simple matter of punching circles of various sizes, cutting them in half, layering them together, and arranging them on either side of a cardstock strip. You can get different effects by altering the positions of the top circles relative to those on the bottom. It's a great way to use up scraps too!

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Butterfly Birthday

One of the easiest ways to give your cards a little extra dimension is to place a little bit of grey marker onto the cardstock behind an image. It gives the illusion of a shadow and "lifts" the image from the page.

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Inside-Out Birthday

Sentiments for both the inside and the outside of your cards!