A Way With Words Els van de Burgt Studio Joset Designs

Shimmer Sheetz Love & Leaves Card

April 17, 2016

By Judi Kauffman

Hello, everyone! It’s Judi Kauffman, back as today’s guest designer with a card that would be perfect for a wedding or un-Valentine (those times when romance is in the air, but it’s not February…). The starring roles are played by the word ‘Love’, a die from Suzanne Cannon’s A Way With Words collection, and my new best friend – Joset Design’s strawberry leaves die. Supporting roles are played by the 2.75” Stitched Square die and a .25” circle die from one of the Tags & More sets.

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The photos above and below reveal the dimension and details: All die cuts are Fire Opal Gemstone Shimmer Sheetz. The leaves have been lightly sanded to tone down the shine and bring out the silver core color, the small circles have been altered with alcohol inks, while the word ‘Love’ remains super sparkly. All six leaves are secured only at the stem end (under the Stitched Square); the square rests on foam tape. The four small circles are backed with Clear Double Sided Tape and are flat against the card front to create the effect of nail heads. The word ‘Love’ has six decorative couching stitches to add a bit more copper to the palette.

 

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Because the card is so straightforward, instead of step by step instructions I’m providing some general ‘Design Strategies’ to help you duplicate it or customize your own version:

*Card is A2 size (4.25” x 5.5”, fold at left side). Feel free to scale it up and/or orient it so that the fold is at the top.

*Use the required metal adaptor plate for die cutting Shimmer Sheetz

(Review Els van de Burgt’s video tutorial if you are new to this technique)

*Pierce the holes for the decorative stitching from the front; secure the knots with tape at the back.

*When lightly sanding the leaves, use the sanding block with long strokes in one direction, on the diagonal, and then repeat with more long strokes that cross in the opposite direction to create the effect of a Florentine finish. Use a damp paper towel to wipe off the ‘dust’ (Shimmer Sheetz is waterproof).

*Stick to a muted palette as shown (dusky mauve and vintage blue cardstock) or customize the card by picking alternative colors for Shimmer Sheetz as well as the cardstock. Go tone-on-tone (White Iridescent Shimmer Sheetz, white and off-white cardstock, gold alcohol ink). Go bold (Emerald Gemstone leaves, ‘Love’ in Yellow Iridescent, bright green and raspberry cardstock). Stick to pastels (Light Pink Iridescent leaves, ‘Love’ in Purple Iridescent, cardstock in peach and buttery yellow).

*Choose a different word (for example: Live, Laugh, Thanks). Choose a different shape on which to place the word (Stitched or Fitted Circle, Oval, Rectangle). Tip: Changing the word and the shape behind it may require changing the orientation of the card from vertical to horizontal. Experiment, play, make the project your own!

*For small circles that are shinier skip the alcohol inks. (Use a punch if you do not have a .25” circle die, and gem glue to secure the circles if using a punch.)

 

Supplies:

Elizabeth Craft Designs –

Shimmer Sheetz in Fire Opal Gemstone

Joset Designs Strawberries die set (only leaves used for this project)

A Way With Words ‘Love’ die

.25” circle die from any Tags & More die set

Metal Adaptor Plate (required for die cutting Shimmer Sheetz)

Clear Double Sided Adhesive Tape

Other –

Cardstock in dusky mauve and vintage blue

Sanding block

Foam tape

#16 Medium Metallic Braid in Copper (Kreinik Manufacturing)

Chenille needle (large eye, sharp point)

Optional: Alcohol inks in Black and Raisin, Metallic Mixatives in Gold (Ranger)

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  • judi kauffman April 22, 2016 at 7:16 pm

    Jan, so sorry I took so long to answer. Couching is an embroidery stitch. Small short stitches are used to hold down other threads when it’s done with threads on fabric. The little stitches are perpendicular to the longer threads that are being held down, only in this case the die cut word takes the place of the long threads that are being secured. Couching on paper is done the same way but with one big difference: You pierce the all of the holes from the TOP of the paper or cardstock because you can’t poke around with a needle from under the cardstock the way you can on fabric. And you go straight up and down with the needle and thread (whereas with fabric you can use a ‘scooping’ motion for sewing). Another difference: You can tape or glue the tails of the thread to the back of the cardstock rather than having to do knots (though knots are fine, too, if you prefer. Please let me know if this needs further explanation. A Google search for ‘couching stitch’ should give you some good samples.

  • Mary Prasad April 18, 2016 at 6:22 pm

    Love the colors! Looks really cool!

  • Kathleen Adams April 18, 2016 at 5:44 pm

    I just love this card. I have the strawberry die and you have made me see how beautiful the leaves are and how different they look using Shimmer Sheetz. I also think how you adhered “Love” is not only clever but really adds something great to the look. Gorgeous!

  • quietfire April 18, 2016 at 2:37 pm

    This is just *so* gorgeous!

  • Raquel Mason April 17, 2016 at 6:12 pm

    What a clever way to adhere the “Love” Shimmer Sheetz die cut to the card! Love the stitching.

  • Kimberly O. April 17, 2016 at 5:26 pm

    Very pretty! The leaves made from the Shimmer Sheetz add just the right touch!!

  • judi kauffman April 17, 2016 at 4:12 pm

    Thank you! I love those Kreinik #16 metallic braids for stitching on cardstock – about the same thickness as 6-strand embroidery floss, but no worries about strands separating or snagging,

  • Karen Aicken April 17, 2016 at 11:40 am

    Such a pretty card!

  • Jan Barrie April 17, 2016 at 10:57 am

    This card is lovely. Can you explain the ‘couching’ to attach the love sentiment. I have never seen this before and I am intrigued.
    Thanks
    Jan B

  • Marjorie April 17, 2016 at 9:14 am

    The colors are beautiful. Like the stitching.

  • Sandy Diller April 17, 2016 at 8:20 am

    Lovely card, I really like the way you did the decorative stitching.

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