I have been hand-making cards for a few years and I got very serious about it in 2017. I started buying good quality stamps and dies. I also started blog hopping and watching videos on YouTube so I could learn new techniques. This year, I want to continue sharing my creations with you and in order to do this, I have big plans. You ready?
Each month, I will publish at least one post about cards and card making. You will get to see cards I have made and I will let you know where I learned things and where to find more inspiration. I hope you enjoy it. Leave comments to tell me what type of cards you want to see.
We all need birthday cards, right? Birthday cards and Thank you cards are the ones I make the most! Last year, I tried to stay ahead of the curve by making all the cards I would need at the beginning of each month. This was a bit tricky in the first half of the year, as there are lots of birthdays in our family between January and June! This year, I have a plan. Every month, here at AGT, I will post at least one birthday card, along with the other cards that I have made.
So, let's get into it... My favourite Birthday cards for January!
Card #1: Balloon Hooray for you
This card used a sneaky technique for the background. I tried masking! This is done by using masking paper. You can purchase masking paper online or make your own from copy paper and two-way glue or temporary adhesive. In a pinch (if you are really careful) it's possible to do the masking technique without the adhesive, just use the copy paper and when blending or stamping hold down your paper very carefully! I die cut the copy paper with my largest stitched rectangle die and, working with the negative (the frame that is created when you cut out a rectangle), used a 2 way glue pen to make it sticky on one side. Then I stuck it on my card panel and blended "Summer Sky" Memento ink into the rectangle space. Doesn't it look like a pretty blue sky behind those balloons. If you don't have ink blending tools or you want to save time, you could simply die cut a rectangle from some light blue card stock to create a similar look. By blending, I had more control over the background colour and it reduced the bulk of the card, which was important with all the other elements that were stuck on instead of stamped. I used a 1.5" circle punch to make the balloons out of textured card stock. I made another card like this, but I used a bigger circle punch and used embossing folders on some of the balloons to add interest. The bakers twine that I used was a bit thick and if I did another card, I would use thinner twine or string. The sentiment came from a set by Avery Elle called "Simply Said".
Card #2 You're Pawsome!
I love this card so much I almost don't want to give it away! This was my first attempt at water colouring a stamped image on watercolour paper and die cutting it using a stitched circle die. I stamped it a little close to the edge of the paper, so it didn't quite make a full circle. The way the circle goes off the page works though! :) I mixed the sentiment by using stamps from some random stamp sets. I don't know what they were called. SORRY! The cat is a Sullivans Clear Stamps- Cat stamp. I embellished with clear sequins (which look pink!) and pink bakers twine. This twine is a much better thickness. :) Did I mention that I love this card!?!! I'm so happy with how it turned out!!
Card #3: Messy Happy Birthday
I stamped the Texture Retro stamp by Kaisercraft twice to create the background on the card panel (Rich Cocoa Memento ink). The Sentiment was stamped using Tuxedo Black Memento ink. The sentiment stamp was from a random $2 set I found in a discount store. It had no name. After stamping the sentiment on scrap paper, I used an ink blending tool and green ink from Kaiser craft to add some subtle colour and then tore around the edge. I found the white edges looked strange against the creamy coloured card stock the background was stamped on, so I blended some black ink around the edges. I used the Texture Stains clear stamp set from Kaisercraft and stamped it repeatedly around the edge of the card base, using second generation stamping as well. I used Memento colours: Rich Cocoa, Potters Clay and Tuxedo Black. I then added a few third generation impressions of the grunge spots stamp on the sentiment strip as well before assembling the card. Check out the products by clicking the links above.
Card #4 Happy Birthday Circle Striped
This card was so simple and could be mass produced really easily. I cut the striped patterned paper to 3.5" x 4.5" and die cut a strip of blue card stock with the tiny scallop edge. The sentiment from HB2U from Sugar Pea Designs, was stamped in Memento: Tuxedo Black Ink. The star stamps were from the You Did It stamp set by Catherine Pooler Designs. Aren't they cute?! Then I die cut around the sentiment using a stitched circle die. See what I mean about easily mass producible. I will have to make some more of these, I think!That's all from me today! I hope that seeing these cards gives you ideas for your own handmade creations. I want to encourage you to look at what you have at home and see what you can make or do with what you have. :)
FYI: Where products have been linked to, I don't get any gifts or compensation based on your purchases or my comments. These are simply products I have purchased and have used and I want to acknowledge the creators.
Next Week: a flashback post for Back to School!
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