Monochromatic Multi Layered Cards

Combining all the different die-cut, embossing and punches one has into a single card can be quite challenging but also very rewarding. When I recently saw some beautiful examples on Pinterest as well as posted on face book by Sheryl I just knew that I had to try this technique.

When I finished my first card I realized that I'd missed the boat!  The solid color background paper I used, although embossed, just wasn't right and took away from the rest of the layers. 

So I tried again and again.Finally I got the hang of it and the next three cards came out much better.

Each one followed the same basic principal and was made entirely out of white paper.  The background was embossed using  a "CuttleBug" folder and then lightly colored with an ink pad to set the color scheme for the rest of the card.  The next layer  is a panel which was created using one of my many "Spellbinder" die-set.  Each die-cut panel was embellished by either a ribbon or an arrangement of flowers; which were either done using a punch ("Martha Stewart") or another die-cut system ("Sizzix").  On the first card I also added a teddy bear and three hearts; which were punched out using a mini Michael's punch.  For my color schemes I selected: black for the first one, lime green for the second one and gold for the third one. 

These cards are fun to make but do require a lot of patience. Good luck making yours and can't wait to see them.

All occassion blank card

As much as I like framing my images on my cards and creating scenes I also like to cut up my stickers to make them fit the overall design and size of the card.

The card's background was made using two shades of blue  to match the color of the one large Pansy which were cut using a Spellbinder die set.  The flowers are a dollar store find and are made up of several 3D glittered and rhinestone covered stickers from one package. Some of the stickers I cut apart and re-assembled to create a fuller look (such as the flowers on the lower right portion) while others I trimmed to give a more specific shape (like the flowers in the pitcher) and then I used the trimmed off flowers to create an even deeper 3D look by adding them on top of another layer.

Although it's a lot of detailed work, cutting up and trimming stickers is made easier if you lay the sticker on wax paper and use a very sharp Exacto knife (scissors tend to flatten the 3D stickers). You'd be surprised how much you can do to a sticker!

Masculine Birthday

Masculine cards are always a challenge but I found that anything "regal" works well: case in point an old fashioned looking coat of arms.

The card background was made using the Script Embossing folder from CuttleBug which I lightly colored with gold in and then layered on gold and dark brown paper. The coat of arms was done using antique gold paper from The Paper Company and the Spellbinder dies from the Heraldry set.  I embellished the crest with some Jolee's by You leafy branches and single flower. The ribbon is an old one from K&Company. The test is from Mrs. Grossman.

How much more manly can you get but to remind him that he is "king" of his own little world!

4th of July Celebration!

I enjoy creating what I call "scenery"cards and wanted to make one for the 4th of July. In thinking about ways the 4th of July is celebrated I saw the old photographs of fireworks over amusement parks and so I decided to create my own version.

I started with, of course, a selection of Mrs. Grossman's stickers. Using a soft purple background I created an amusement park from various "retired" packs of stickers and added the shimering firework bursts.  To make the card trully scenic I used a legal size card and ran a band of multi colored glittered paper from Martha Stewart/E.K. Success across the lower portion. Then to stretch the image I cut it up in three pieces and mounted the pieces on a piece of glittered yellow paper from Die Cut with a View.

Maybe this is not your typical patriotic themed 4th of July card but it does celebrate an all American creation: the amusement park! Happy 4th of July!