Elizabeth Craft Designs General ModaScrap

Four Cards, One Technique

June 11, 2017

 

Hi and hello! It’s Riikka here with another guest post. This time I have a bunch of cards for you. Since summer is time for all sorts of parties, at least here in Finland, cards may come in handy. We have christenings, weddings, barbecue parties and many other festivities and what could be nicer than bring a handmade card with a little something when attending!

As you can see from the photo above, I created four different looking cards, but some of the steps are the same in all of them! So let’s get started. If you get confused, at the end of the post is a guide telling which steps to use for each card.

Step 1. The focal point of the cards is an inked poppy. Use the Lacy Poppies die and make yourself a stencil. Cut the blooms out of any cardstock and ink through the opening. Mix a couple of colors for a soft look. Also add some stamping to the blooms with black ink, keeping the stencil in place to prevent ink from seeping beyond the flower.

Step 2. Fussy cut around the blooms. Cut one poppy in the center of a card sized (10×15 cm) piece of the white cardstock. Also cut three other card sized pieces of the white cardstock for the card bases. Save the extra cardstock and the die cut poppy. They will be used on other cards.

Step 3. For the first card – use the piece of cardstock that was die cut with the poppy opening. Ink another, piece of cardstock that is a bit smaller and use the same inks that were used when creating the flowers. Also add some stamping in black. Use Clear Double Sided Adhesive to attach the two pieces. Put this card front aside for now.

Step 4. For the second card – choose a patterned paper that matches your color scheme. Cut a piece of it, backed with Clear Double Sided Adhesive tape. Use Ribbons 1 dies to cut two strips (or more if you prefer). Adhere the strips to a piece of white cardstock that will fit onto a card base in an upcoming step. Set aside for now.

Step 5. Now add two of the inked and fussy cut poppies, using glue to adhere the first poppy to the card front, and foam dots to add dimension to the second one. Trim the stems as needed. Put this card front aside, until the others are at the same stage.

Step 6. For the third card – choose a couple of patterned papers. Cut a couple of rectangles and adhere them to your card with Clear Double Sided Adhesive. Then cut the “Circle Background” out of patterned paper. Save the background piece for the fourth card. Use the circles to decorate the background for this one.

Step 7. Adhere an inked poppy and a lace one to this card. Use glue to adhere only the stem and center of each flower, leaving the petals free so they can be gently curved upward to add dimension. Put this card front aside for now.

Step 8. For the fourth card – add a layer of white gesso to white cardstock cut to size for a card front. Layer the circle background piece on top while the gesso is still wet so it acts as an adhesive. Also add some gesso on top to lock the shape in place and tone down the pattern. Another option: Adhere the background first, then add gesso. Heat- or air-dry.

Step 9. Press the ink pads you used to color the blooms onto a piece of plastic packaging or a craft sheet. Lightly mist with water and press the ink onto the card front. Watercolors are a good alternative if Distress inks are not available. Heat- or air-dry.

Step 10. Cut a rectangle out of cardstock and add a flower pattern to it using the inks and the “Flower” stencil. Cut the oval frame out of patterned paper using the “Entwined Ovals” die. Adhere both pieces to the card front.

Step 11. Use a stapler and foam dots to adhere the inked poppy to your card, foam dots under the bloom to add dimension, staples to secure the stem, as shown in the photo above.

Step 12. Using Clear Double Sided Adhesive Tape, mount each of the card fronts onto a slightly larger (11x16cm) piece of cardstock or patterned paper. (Finished cards will be flat  – use a side- or top-fold card base made from cardstock or patterned paper instead if you prefer.) Mix patterns and colors that are in the color scheme.

Step 13. Add a stamped greeting and some splatters to each card. Use watercolor and a small brush for the splatters and the “Just a Note” stamp set and black ink for the greetings. As shown, there is a different greeting on each card, but they could be a set with the same greeting on all of them. Heat- or air-dry the splatters and stamped areas.

Step 14. Add some gold splashes to the cards, too. Mix some glue with water to make it more fluid, splatter onto the cards and then while the watered-down glue is still wet, sprinkle some Golden Silk Microfine Glitter on top. Dry thoroughly before brushing off excess glitter. (Trying to brush it off while wet will produce streaks and smudges!)

Step 15. Finish the cards with some sequins for that extra bling for festivities! And there you have them, four different cards all ready for action, to be given to someone special! (Option: Add Glitter Dots Peel-offs from Elizabeth Craft Designs instead of sequins.)

The idea behind creating the four cards was to go from a simple design to more complicated, layered one. It allows the same basic idea and technique to create very different styles. Which one is your favorite? You can make them all the same or try all four styles to suit the taste of the recipients.

I used my favorite turquoise, teal, green color scheme to give that fresh, summer look. Simply by changing the scheme to vivid red and orange you can use the same idea to make autumn cards as poppies bloom for a long time in many climates. Or try monochromatic black and white for a striking graphic effect.

If you got mixed up along the way, here is the list giving the steps required for each card:

For the card on the left use steps 1, 2, 6, 7, 12-15. For the card on the right use steps 1,2, 4, 5, 12-15.

For the card on the left use steps 1,2, 6, 8-15. For the card on the right use steps 2, 3, 12-15.

Hope you like the cards and the tutorial! Thank you for stopping by today!

SUPPLIES:

Elizabeth Craft Designs –


Other:

Distress Ink – Peacock Feathers, Broken China, Cracked Pistachio

Archival Ink – Jet Black

7 Dots Studio – Homegrown clear stamps

Stapler

Watercolor Paints

Paint Brush

Sequins

Glue

Foam dots

Paper trimmer

Scissors

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  • Lucy Schmidt June 12, 2017 at 2:57 pm

    I think they are all worthy of being in a museum!!! Ha. Great tutorial and everything was so well explained and pictured. I think my favorite is the CAS Enjoy Your Day card, but sure wouldn’t mind finding any of them in my mailbox. Those who receive them will be delighted. Nicely done!

    • Riikka June 13, 2017 at 10:01 am

      Thank you so much Lucy!

  • Kathleen Adams June 11, 2017 at 10:38 pm

    Such a great idea and tutorial! Thank you

    • Riikka June 12, 2017 at 12:11 am

      Thank you Kathleen!

  • Wanda Hentges June 11, 2017 at 7:32 pm

    These are gorgeous!!!

    • Riikka June 12, 2017 at 12:11 am

      Thank you Wanda!

  • Brandy June 11, 2017 at 2:37 pm

    Fantastic tutorial! Your cards are beautiful!!! I can’t wait to try these techniques!!!

    • Riikka June 12, 2017 at 12:12 am

      I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you!

  • Karen Aicken June 11, 2017 at 10:50 am

    AWESOME tutorial and the cards are fabulous!! Thanks for sharing.

    • Riikka June 12, 2017 at 12:12 am

      Thank you so much Karen!

  • Jeanie June 11, 2017 at 10:19 am

    I love all these cards. Some really interesting ideas. Thank you

    • Riikka June 12, 2017 at 12:13 am

      Thank you Jeanie!

  • PA June 11, 2017 at 9:05 am

    I prefer the two flowers (blue solid/white) on the top left card with the background on the bottom left card where the pretty background would be visually appreciated. instead of “covered” with the stenciled flower cardstock and entwined oval . Card on bottom right “Just A Note To Say” IS pretty. Colors used are pretty, refreshing.

    • Riikka June 12, 2017 at 12:13 am

      Thank you so much! Love to hear your thoughts <3

  • Carolyn Smith June 11, 2017 at 7:41 am

    Love them all and thanks SO MUCH for new ideas! Now if I could find the time to create? Happy creating to you! Do more of what makes you HAPPY!

    • Riikka June 12, 2017 at 12:14 am

      Thank you Carolyn <3 Hope you'll find time to create!

  • Theressa June 11, 2017 at 7:16 am

    I love this idea!

    • Riikka June 12, 2017 at 12:14 am

      Thank you Theressa!

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