THREE RECTANGLES - A VERY BASIC CARD LAYOUT WITH ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES - A “GO TO LAYOUT”

Hi Stampers!

Here we are in the last week of February, and that means this is the last week for my Go To Layout Series. 

Today we’ll take a look at a very basic card layouts, one we all use versions of over and over again, It is truly a “go to” layout for everyone from beginners to experienced card makers. I call it the Three Rectangles Layout, because I need a name. 😊 What are the three rectangles? A layer, a mat for the focal image, and a focal panel. I list the measurements I used later in this post. Although it’s a very basic layout, there are endless options. Remember, basic does not mean boring! You can use the layout over and over, and still have unique cards every time. Let’s take a look at the sample cards:

VIDEO

THREE RECTANGLES CARD

A VERY BASIC CARD LAYOUT WITH ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES

WHAT YOU NEED TO MAKE THE CARD

* Card Base - A-2 size: 8 1/2” x 5 1/2” scored and folded at 4 1/4” of 11’ x 4 1/4” scored and folded at 5 1/2”

* Layer - cardstock or patterned paper cut at 5 1/4” x 4”

* Focal Mat - 3 1/2” x 3 1/4”

* Focal Panel - 3 1/4” x 3”

* Inside Panel - 5 1/4” x 4”

* Stamps, ink, and other supplies needed to complete your card

NOTE - All supplies used are Stampin’ Up! unless otherwise noted.

FLOATING BY CARE

This sample card features a background layer of patterned paper, a fussy cut focal panel with a matted sentiment, on patterned paper with a cardstock mat. This is an example of a card that takes minimal supplies. I did use dies for the sentiment layers, but punches would be great too. 

SUPPLIES I USED

* Cardstock - Summer Splash, and Basic White

* Patterned Paper - (retired)

* Stamp set - We’ll Walrus Be Friends (retired)

* Ink - Tuxedo Black (Memento); Stampin’ Blends - Smoky Slate, Ivory, Pumpkin Pie

* Adhesive and dimensionals

FOREST BIRTHDAY CARD

This is another card that uses patterned paper for the background, but this time the patterned paper was run through an embossing folder for a bit of texture. I changed up the layout by tilting the matted focal panel to the left. It resembles a photograph, don’t you think. I added a few gems for some added interest, and called it good.

SUPPLIES I USED

* Cardstock - Crumb Cake and Very Vanilla

* Patterned Paper - (retired)

* Embossing Folder - Woodgrain (retired)

* Stamps - Adventure Together, Friendly Seagulls, Rustic Retreat (retired)

* Embellishments - Adhesive - backed Metallic Gems

* Inks Garden Green; Tuxedo Black (Memento)

* Adhesive

GARDEN BIRTHDAY CARD

This time the background layer is cardstock I ran through an embossing folder. I offset the focal panel, and moved the greeting from the focal panel to its own smaller panel.

SUPPLIES I USED

* Cardstock - Mossy Meadow, Crumb Cake, Basic White

* Embossing Folder - Macrame (retired)

* Stamps - Evlectic Garden (retired), Well Said

* Inks - Tuxedo Black (Memento); Garden Green, Crumb Cake; Stampin’ Up! - Crumb Cake, Mossy Meadow, Old Olive, Real Red, Cherry Cobbler

* Adhesive

HAPPY CHRISTMAS CARD

Here is the layout in landscape orientation. Once again, I used basic supplies. For a little extra something I used Pops of Color. Pops of Color and similar products (Stickles, Glossy Accents, Glitter Glue, etc) are an inexpensive way to add dimension, shimmer, or gloss to your cards. Other options for a bit of shimmer are Glitter Brushes and Wink of Stella.

SUPPLIES I USED

* Cardstock - Garden Green, Real Red, Basic White

* Patterned Paper - Take A Bow

* Stamps - Festive & Fun (retired)

* Inks - Tuxedo Black (Memento); Garden Green; Stampin’ Blends - Gray Granite, SmokySlate, Real Red, Poppy Parade, Daffodil Delight, Balmy Blue, Pool Party, Lemon Lime Twist, Shaded Spruce, Crumb Cake, Old Olive

* Embellishment - Pops of Color - Clear, Snowflake, Rudolph Red (Scrapbook.com); Glitter Brush - Clear (Scrapbook.com)

* Adhesive and dimensionals

WHY HAVE A COLLECTION OF “GO TO” LAYOUTS?

* Go to layouts are perfect for beginners. They provide an easy way to learn about balance, layering, and other card makings skills. 

* They are great resource when you are stuck for card ideas. 

* They are perfect for when you need a quick card.

* The most basic of layouts are great choices when you are making multiples of a card.

* Go to layouts can be used as starting points for other layout you create on your own.

CHANGING THE LAYOUT - SAMPLE CARDS

HAPPY OCEAN BIRTHDAY

I changed the basic layout by creating the background layer with 4 strips of patterned papers (4 different designs). Each strip is 1” x 5 1/4”. I adhered the strips to a piece of printer paper cut at 4” x 5 1/4”. This piece was then attached to the card base. I stamped the greeting on the focal panel, but moved the focal image off the panel.

SUPPLIES I USED

* Card Base - Melon Mambo cardstock

* Patterned Paper - Friends of the Ocean

* Other Cardstock - Basic White

* Stamps - Ocean Friends, Stylized Birthday (retired)

* Inks - Melon Mambo, Peach Pie, Pumpkin Pie

* Embellishments - Marine Dream Confetti (Trinity Stamps)

 BIRTHDAY CAKE CARD

I went wild with this card! I changed the size of the background layer to 2 3/4” x5 1/2”. I swapped out the rectangular focal panel and mat for a die cut birthday cake and added a die cut greeting. 

SUPPLIES I USED

* Card Base - Basic White cardstock

* Patterned Paper - Berry Sweet Patterned Collection (Scrapbook.com)

* Stamp - Happy Birthday to You and die (retired)

* Greeting - Happy Birthday (Moonstone Dies by Hunkydory

* Ink - Stampin’ Blends - Bubble Bath, Moody Mauve, Rich Razzleberry, Granny Apple Green, Old Olive, Pool Party

* Embellishments - Snowscape (Buttons Galore), Glossy Accents (Ranger)

TODAY’S CARDS

Thank you for joining me today. I hope today’s post and the three previous posts have been helpful. I hope you find your collect a library of layouts you like to form your own library of go to layouts! Until next time …

Stamp Happy!

Kim