May Design Team Project: Simple Mother's Day Card

 Beginner Card Makers...this is so simple and perfect for you. Give your mom something you made yourself. Today's card is for my May Design Team Project over at Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge. See the link below to check this challenge out. This only took a few supplies. If you have 10 minutes you can do this easy peasy. I used recollections 6 x 6 patterned paper for this, Jot half-backed pearls, a circle die, a stamped sentiment from Alina Crafts, and one Copic marker. So with just a few supplies, you can recreate this if you wish.

Here is a Link to the Challenge.

I also have a video up on YouTube. You can find it here.

Bling Out to Make a Flower Focal Point

 

This is another simple card using just a few items from your stash. I made some lovely flowers out of a die stem that I colored with a sharpie and some acrylic paint. To make the flowers stand out I decided to bling them out with half-backed faceted gems. So much fun to do. This could easily be a mother's day card. If you don't have any gems or sequins just use the paint to make the flowers. That would be lovely.

Yep, you guessed there is a coordinating video you can watch for less than 3 minutes found here.

Repeating Elements: Great Impact for Card Design

 So inspiration struck while watching Emily in Paris on Netflix. It is amazing how where others may see a great piece of clothing, a nice wallpaper, a great tile pattern...and I see a great card design. I am obsessed I tell you.

But, as I "saw" the card design I was thinking of how impactful repeating elements in card design can be. They really draw me in I know for sure. They also can be simple shapes like the butterfly die I used on this card. Whether it die cuts, stamped images, or stencils, the repeating elements really can lead to a card that someone would love to receive but is so simple as well. If you are new to cardmaking, I hope you will try this out. It can be so much fun to make.

Handmade Postcard

 

I was excited to make a homemade postcard for a special education High School class in North Carolina. I had a TikTok bestie reach out as this class was trying to see how many postcards they could get from across the country. I mean I had to do it you know? So this had to be all one layer so I stuck to my favorite thing Heat Embossing. I even got brave and used black embossing powder which is notoriously known to give finicky results. My results were finicky too but to offset the imperfections I added a layered stencil. This only took about 20 minutes from start to finish to execute so if you want to give postcards a try, I say do it!

See the video here.

Scored Background

 

This is another super simple card that is great for a beginner card maker. The scoring and the multitude of gems give it a classic elegant look. Your sentiment can be stamped or in my case, I used a sticker. This uses minimal supplies. It does take a bit of time to put on all the gems at each scored intersection. I find doing that very soothing. Give it a try!

To see the video head here.

Faux Dip Dye Watercolor with a Flat Shaker Twist

 

That title sounds like a drink doesn't it? I thought it was clever...anywhoo, This has been on my I want to try that list since Christmas when I saw Kristina Werner do it. I was really hesitant. I thought it would be difficult to recreate but it wasn't at all. So I challenge all of you to get out of your comfort zone. Try a technique or fun fold you have never tried. It just may become your next favorite thing to do in cardmaking.

I so enjoyed making these cards. The biggest tip is to use that heat tool. It makes this a much speedier process. Otherwise, you will spend most of your time waiting for your ink to dry.

I have a video up if you want to check out how I made these cards just head here.

Using up Scraps from my Scrap Bin

 

I have challenged myself to use some of the papers I collect in my scrap bin at least on one card each month. I am trying to train myself to look there first instead of always cutting into a new piece of cardstock. So, I am struggling still since I forgot to do this for March. So this is late but this would be the card I made out of my scraps for March. I will be doing another for April. I am going to keep working on this till it becomes a habit.

To see the short video of this card being made just go here.

Classic Card Design: Great for Beginner Cardmakers

 This was one of my go-to card designs back in the day. This was before there was ink blending before shaker cards were a thing, I mean like the dark ages. Again my go-to technique during that time was heat embossing powder. Oh, how I loved to watch the magic of the powder melting. What is great about this design is you can add to it later. A few die cuts or some other stamps added to this as a base would make this even better.

See the video here.

Ease Card- Great Fun Fold card for Beginner Cardmakers

 This is another super easy fun fold card for beginners. It comes together quickly and easily. It is a great way for the recipient to showcase the card in their home or office. It is simple yet fun. It is just one of those cards that is a win-win.

Make Faux Enamel Dots to Match your Projects

 Got this hack from the amazing Frugal Crafter. If you aren't following her here on YouTube then why not? I will link her channel below. Here is an easy way to make sure your "enamel" dots match your card. Color or use cardstock that matches your pallet, use a hole punch to punch out some dots. Then you can use a bit of fun foam, turn them over and with a stylus give them a bit of dimension as I do in the video by rubbing them in a circular motion. This will make them a cupped shape. You do not have to do this step. I like the dimension so I do. To add some shine you add a bit of Versamark Ink and dip them in clear embossing powder. Once the powder is heated up you get a nice sheen. I suggest adding at least 2 to 3 coats.

Here is where you will find the Frugal Crafter

To watch my quick video on how to do this please go here.

Alter Patterned Paper: Stamping and Embossing

 Revisiting how you can change your patterned paper to fit your project. Today I added stamped/colored images along with some heat embossing. This created the paper that I really wanted to have for this Birthday Card. If you love glittered elements or foiled patterned paper, remember you can use what you have in your stash. Just add those elements you love. Hope this gives you a whole new outlook on that patterned paper stash.

Check out the video for a quick less than 2 minute recap on this card below.