Saturday, September 18, 2010

Special Papers for Simple Cards


Just like most of the crafters I know, I collect all sorts of paper.  There is something about looking through paper that makes me happy!  I particularly like specialty papers that have added features like foil, glitter or flocking for texture.


Last fall, I found a collection of paper called "Autumn Splendor" by Making Memories at Michael's.  It was on sale for a very low price ($2.99 I think).  There are eight different papers in the package - this leaf design with foil on some of the leaves is lovely.  It is very hard to capture the metallic leaves in a photograph.


I decided to trim a section for a horizontal card front and chose a stamp with a nice saying for the card.  I adapted the stamp design by wiping off the edges of the stamp with the little dots when I inked the stamp so the sentiment would appear with no border.



As you can see, my stamped sentiment didn't turn out very well - there were gaps in the printing and some smudges.  To save time and frustration,  I decided to trim this piece and use the leaf paper on a vertical card instead of a horizontal card.  The trimmed piece ended up at 3 1/2 x 4 inches with the foiled leaf nicely placed in the center of the card front.


I used multiple mats and varied the reveal to add more interest to the design.  The metallic bronze DCWV is fairly close in color to the leaf design.  This bottom layer is cut at 4 x 4 1/2.  There is a dark brown layer between the metallic cardstock and the leaf designed paper.  This brown layer is just under 4 /1/4 x 3 5/8 inches.  The dark brown is needed to add definition.

The decorative leaf paper is cut at about 3 1/2 x 4 inches. I adhered it to the brown layer and then centered the matted image on the bronze layer.  I inked the edges of the leaf paper for some more definition.  I added three little gems in the lower right side of the card to finish the card front.


For the inside of the card, I trimmed some ivory cardstock to 4 x 5 1/4 inches and punched the bottom edge with the Martha Stewart leaf border punch.  By adding this layer you provide a nice place to write a personal message to the recipient.

If you have some special papers you'd like to feature on a card, using them as the top layer is a great way to get them out and enjoy them.  You could add more to the card - perhaps a Cricut cut on the mat or a sentiment cut with the Cricut.  I can't see the Imagine totally replacing my papers by printing some of them.  I will still want to have the papers with "special effects" added!

(If you are looking for the "video tour" of the 16th Birthday Card file I am sorry that I wasn't able to get it ready yet.  I have had some personal things to take care of and just didn't have time to do the video).

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11 comments:

  1. What a beautiful card Diane! I like your added border punch on the inside.

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  2. Love the paper.Makes me take a deep breath and relax.sometimes I get a little tired of the busy paper.thanks ! have a great day

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  3. totally agree about your sentiment regarding papers, the imagine can not duplicate that sensory feeling of sorting and finding that perfect paper. i really enjoyed how you showed the stamping was not to your liking and found a way to salvage your card, love it!!!

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  4. That IS beautiful paper, Diane! It's a shame that the stamping just didn't turn out. I wonder if you could trim a piece down and run it through an inkjet or laser printer to print the sentiment on the paper? Perhaps I'll try this later today, if I can stand being indoors on such a glorious day here!

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  5. i agree with all the posts above. i love, love beautiful paper and even find myself not wanting to cut it...i laugh at myself sometimes. i also agree on the imagine not possible putting out the quality and texture of these pretty papers. but...on with progress. i would use it if i won it or 'someone' would bye it, but not spending the $ at this time. i'm overwhelmed with what i have.
    katschriber
    cen30611@centurytel.net

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  6. Thanks for the very practical show and tell of your "mistake" and how you made it into something beautiful.
    I am forever trying stamping and ending up with the same kind of misses and just chuck the whole thing. Your idea is much better!

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  7. Oh how I love paper! It makes me happy to just 'browse' through my paper drawers sometimes. I love the feel of paper too. I admit it, I'm a paper-holic!

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  8. Thanks for sharing such an absolutely beautiful card and how to correct those mistakes that are made. Here I thought I was the only one that would get a sentiment blurred or crooked. I love how you fixed it. Its a great tip that I know I will use :)

    Thanks for sharing!
    ~Andrea6760

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  9. What a super pretty card! I too love my papers - one of the reasons the Imagine just isn't a match for me. I'm pretty sure I'm a paper-a-holic and now must go looking for some fall leaf papers. So,so,so pretty!

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  10. I love your card - I also bought several of those packs, but have not been able to see how to cut down the larger print pages. As a newbie to stamping, I have found that I ususally have to stamp on a cut and then put it on the card - less loss of cards then!!

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