PATTERNED PAPER - THE CARD MAKER’S SECRET WEAPON

Hello Stampers!

I don’t know about you, but I have a lot of patterned paper! Each and every sheet is beautiful in its own way, and I enjoy using those papers. When I first began buying patterned paper, it stressed me out! The paper was double sided, and it was torture having to put adhesive over such a beautiful design in order to use the other side on my card. It took a while, but I overcame that issue. I realized patterned paper, as beautiful as it may be, is a tool and meant to be used, not collected. Today we’ll talk about many of the ways we use patterned papers to create great cards, and yes, I have a fun layout to help us use those patterned papers. Let’s take a look at the sample cards. There are a bunch of them:

VIDEO

CARD LAYOUT #2611

CREATING THE BASIC CARD

WHAT YOU NEED

* Card Base - A-2 size. Cut cardstock at 81/2”x 5 1/2” score and fold at 4 1/4” or 11” x 4 1/4” scored and folded at 5 1/2”

* Patterned Paper - Cut at 5 1/4” x 4” and cut strip at 5 1/4” x 3/4”or 4” x 3/4” for inside panel; to cover envelope flaps use a piece of patterned paper cut at 6” x 2” or size needed to cover flap and trim. Extra for cutting out images or patterns from paper to use on card.

* Inside Panel - white or light colored cardstock cut at 5 1/4”x 4”

* Cardstock - for focal image and greeting - white, vanilla, etc; mats -same color as card base and cut or punched to leave a border around the image and greeting.

* Dies, punches, stamps, inks, markers, adhesives, embellishments, etc.

WHAT TO DO

* Cut, score, and fold card base. Go over fold with bone folder.

* Adhere patterned paper to front of card base.

* Stamp and color focal images. Stamp greeting. Adhere these panels to their bases.

* Stamp inside panel, add patterned paper strips or cut outs to panel, adhere to inside of card.

* Adhere focal image and greeting to card front. Adhere with dimensionals if desired.

*Add embellishments if desired.

WAYS TO USE PATTERNED PAPER

1. Use for backgrounds / layers

2. Use the scraps for card layouts / quilt cards, etc.

3. Use fussy cut or die cut images from the paper for focal images or embellishments

4. Use as a card base for certain fun folds

5. Use to create 3-D projects- boxes, treat boxes/ bags, etc.

6. Use to decorate envelope flaps

7. Use to select color schemes for cards or focal images

SELECTING COLORS FOR THE CARD

I used the colors in the patterned paper to help select the colors for the card base and mats, and the ink colors, as well as the embellishments. I had leftover patterned paper to cover the envelope flaps use.

(All supplies - Stampin’ Up!)

COLOR A, COLOR B, OR NO COLOR

Sometimes patterned paper offers us multiple option for a color schemes. I knew right away a black card base would be perfect, as black is the darkest color in the pattern and seems more of an accent than main color. Trying to select a color for the butterfly was a bit more challenging. At first I was certain the red would be perfect. I like it, but seemed like a lot of red, so I tried the yellow-gold color that is used for the center of the flowers. I like it, but I wanted to try another color. I stamped the butterfly outline and I sort of liked it. I placed the mat underneath it, and I really liked that! So do you just keep making versions of the card until you find the color combination you like? No, simply cut some circles (or whatever shape) from scrap white cardstock, printer paper, or other white paper. Place it on a mat and on the card. Use this as a sample. Which color really pops? Make the focal panel using that color.

(All supplies - Stampin’ Up!)

ADDING INTEREST INSIDE WITH PATTERNED PAPER

Selecting the color for the focal image is simplified by using colors from the patterned papers. You can choose the main color or an accent color. Which do you prefer?

It is easy to cut a strip of the patterned paper and adhere it to the inside panel. Fussy cut images from the patterned paper to use inside the card or for focal images or embellishments. 

 

It is easy to cut a strip of the patterned paper and adhere it to the inside panel. Fussy cut images from the patterned paper to use inside the card or for focal images or embellishments. 

(All supplies - Stampin’ Up!)

MIRROR IMAGES FOR IMAGE PANEL AND GREETING

For these cards I flipped the position of the focal image and greeting panels making them a mirror image of those on the card layout.  As for the patterned papers, I used the darkest color for my card base and then chose colors for the fish and greeting. I think the blue and the orange colors both work well for the focal image / greeting. I did not care for the green color for the focal image. It is okay on the background panel. Patterned paper not only helps you select the colors you want to use; it helps you decide colors you do not want to use. 

(All supplies - Stampin’ Up!)

LOTS OF COLOR

The patterned papers I used for today’s cards feature multiple colors. Those colors can be very helpful not only when selecting the card base color, but also when selecting the colors for focal images.  That is what I did for these cards. I also changed the card layout circles to rectangles. I really like the way these cards turned out!

(Stamped image - Woodware Craft Collection; All other supplies - Stampin’ Up!)

WHICH COLOR IS THE DARKEST?

Many time when selecting a color for my card base I select darkest color found in the patterned papers. Sometimes it is a challenge deciding which color is the darkest. The paper used for the card above is an example of paper with colors of similar saturation. The darker purple or berry color and the turquoise color are very close in saturation, as is the orange, but the purple and turquoise seemed closest to my eye. Basically, I chose the turquoise. There seemed to be few blobs of it than the purple. I felt using that color as a card base would tie things together and make the turquoise pop. What do you think?

(All supplies - Stampin’ Up!)

I MADE AN EXCEPTION 

I just shared I look for the darkest color in the patterned paper and use that color for the card base. Well, not always. The patterned paper used on the card above features navy blue as the darkest color. My card base is orange. Why? The navy card base “dulled” the card. I wanted a light hearted card, bright and cheery. The navy was too overpowering. The contrast between it and the light blue was stark, and the orange print basically faded away. I switched from navy to orange for the card base, and the card conveys the desired message. The colors, focal image, and greeting are congruent. In cardmaking there are no rules! Remember, if you like it; it is perfect!

ALL THE COLORS - DIFFERENT ORIENTATION

Here is a look at the card layout in landscape orientation as opposed to portrait orientation. Once again the patterned paper contains several colors. I did select the darkest color for the card base. I used the remaining colors as inspiration for coloring the cat images. I used the same set of colors for both cat images. I used orange for one cat and yellow for its balloon. I switched those colors for the second card.The orange cat seems to bring out the brightness of the colors in the paper, whereas the yellow cat makes the more pastel colors in the paper pop!

(All supplies - Stampin’ Up!)

TODAY’S CARDS

Until today I never really stopped to consider all the ways I use patterned paper. Whether it is used as a layer on the card front or there is as all strip inside the card, patterned paper truly is a versatile (and in my mind necessary)supply in the craft room. So . . . let’s put that paper to work!

Thank you for stopping by today. Until next time …

Stamp Happy!

Kim

ANOTHER IDEA FOR USING CARDSTOCK SCRAPS

Hi Stampers!

Today we are continuing last week’s theme of using cardstock scraps!  There are endless possibility when it comes to using these bits and pieces. For today’s cards we will use lots of cardstock scraps, plus punches, and /or dies to create colorful cards. I saw several cards on Pinterest that were my inspiration for today’s cards. They were created by different people, so a big shout out to all those who provided inspiration. As I mentioned, we’ll be using cardstock scraps, punches and /or dies to create the focal pieces. Believe it or not, white card bases (in general) work well for these cards. Let’s take a peek at some sample cards.

VIDEO

CARD LAYOUT # 2610

WHAT YOU NEED

* A-2 Card Base - white cardstock (or color of choice) cut at 8 1/2’x 5 1/2” scored and folded at 4 1/4”

* Inside Panel - (Optional) white or light colored cardstock cut at 5 1/4” x 4”

* Cardstock Scraps - colors of choice

* Punches or dies - 2-3 sizes, nesting dies work well for this project. 

* Press n Seal (optional) - a kitchen / food cling wrap product made by Glad.

* Stamps, inks, adhesives, and other items needed to complete card

WHAT TO DO

* Choose your scraps - colors, sizes (use smaller scraps for smaller images and larger pieces for larger images.

* Punch or die cut geometric shapes (or other shapes)

* Arrange shapes on card base. If there are some you want to put on dimensionals, remember the placement, and set those shapes aside.

* Tear off a piece of Press n Seal, place the “sticky” side over the arrangement, gently rub. Lift up from card base and the arrangement will stay put on the Press n Seal.

* Place liquid glue on back side of arrangement. Place arrangement on card base. Rub images to be sure they adhere. Remove Press n Seal. Save to use again.

* Place dimensionals or foam tape on the back side of the shapes you set aside. Arrange them on the card front.

* Stamp greeting on card front.

* Stamp inside panel (adhere to inside card) or inside card. Use a few extra shapes to embellish inside cards. 

HOW MANY SHAPES DO I NEED?

* The size and shape of your images and number of sizes you use will determine the number you need.

* In general 5-6 of main (largest) image,1-3 medium images, and 3-5 smaller ones. These are just estimates. If you cut frames as opposed to solid images you might need more as the frames look great when overlapped!

* Be careful! It is really easy to overload the card with shapes! Ask me how I know!!!

LOTS OF STARS

(PORTRAIT)

I overlapped the top two star frames by cutting a small horizontal slit on one side of the orange star, slipped it around a side of the yellow star and glued in place. 

(LANDSCAPE)

The layout for this card looks great in landscape orientation too!

(All supplies for both cards- Stampin’ Up!)

CIRCLES

(PORTRAIT)

I added a bit of ink on some of the circles to add interest and texture.  Another idea to add interest is stamp a design on the scrap cardstock using an ink the same or close to the same as the cardstock. After stamping punch or die cut the shapes. 

(LANDSCAPE)

(All supplies for both cards - Stampin’ Up!)

HEARTS & HEXAGONS

Other examples of shapes that can be used.

HEARTS

(Heart Dies  - Hero  Arts; All other supplies - Stampin’ Up!)

HEXAGONS

(All supplies - Stampin’ Up!)

SOLID IMAGES

Geometric shapes work great for these cards, but so do solid shapes or silhouette shapes, like these Peeps and dinosaurs!

FAVORITE PEEPS

(Bunny Dies, greeting - Scrapbook.com; All other supplies - Stampin’ Up!)

DINOSAUR RAWR

(Dino Dies - Trinity Stamps; All other supplies - Stampin’ Up!)

VIDEO CARD

(Dies - Waffle Flower; All other supplies - Stampin’ Up!)

TODAY’S CARDS

I enjoy looking at all these colorful cards, and best of all they were made from scraps! My cardstock scrap bin weighs a bit less now, and I like that I made the most of my cardstock. I also used some punches and dies I have not used in a while. Overall, I am happy with this project.  It is an excellent example of using what you have on hand to create terrific cards. So, grab your cardstock scraps, punches, and dies, and start using those scraps!

Thank you for stopping by today. Until next time . . . 

Stamp Happy!

Kim

CARDSTOCK SCRAPS? LET’S USE THEM!

Hi Stampers!

We all have a collection of patterned paper scraps, and finding ways to use them is always a plus. How about cardstock scraps? Do you have a collection of those? I do. I thought today I’d show you cards I made using cardstock scraps and a simple, but versatile card layout. Here are the cards:

VIDEO

CARD LAYOUT # 2609

WHAT YOU NEED

* Card Base - cut cardstock at A-2 size (8 1/2” x 5 1/2” scored and folded at 4 1/4”)

* Inside Panel - white cardstock cut 5 1/4” x 4”

* Mats -cut scrap cardstock pieces at 2 5/8” x 1 5/8” you will need three mats

* Other Cardstock - cardstock scraps for stamped and die cut images, greetings, etc

* Stamps, inks, adhesives, embellishments, etc.

WHAT TO DO

* Cut cardstock pieces base, score and fold

* Cut inside panel and the three mats

* Stamp images, color, die cut; stamp inside panel, prepare greeting if necessary.

* Adhere panels to card base. In landscape orientation, leave about 3/4” border at the top and bottom of the card, and evenly space them across the card. 

* Add images, greeting, and embellishments.

EMBOSSED MATS

This card was so quick and easy to create. I simply cut the mats, popped them in an embossing folder, then adhered them to the card base. I added three butterflies I stamped, colored, and die cut out of scrap cardstock. The greeting is stamped directly onto the white card base. Finally I added a few gems.

(Stamps - Hero Arts; All other supplies - Stampin’ Up!)

STAMPED MATS

To create the mats for this card I cut a piece of scrap white cardstock at 4 7/8” x 2 5/8”. I stamped the leaf design on the cardstock, then cut the cardstock along the 4 7/8” side at 1 5/8” twice. This gave me 3 pieces measuring 1 5/8” x 2 5/8”.  The bees and greeting were created using more scrap cardstock. 

(Embellishments - Hero Arts; All other supplies - Stampin’ Up!)

PORTRAIT VERSION WITH PANELS

This is the portrait version of the card. The mats are put in the same places as for the landscape version. I cut my mats with a die that measures the 1 5/8” x 2 5/8”. I added panels for the images. They measure 

1 3/8” x 2 3/8”. The greeting was stamped on 1/2” x 5 1/2” strips and matted on strips of the blue cardstock that is 5/8” wide x 5 1/2” long. I have a lot of 1/2” and 1” white cardstock scraps, so always good to find ways to use them. 

(All supplies from Stampin’ Up!)

CHANGING IT UP

This is the same layout just changed up a bit. I started by stamping the card base with a background stamp. Next I used a scrap of green cardstock that measures  1 1/4” x 5 1/2” and stamped a leaf design on it. I adhered it to the center of the card base. I changed the rectangular mats to ovals. The oval die cuts measure right at the 2 5/8” and at the widest point the measure just a smidge under 1 5/8”. I added the trees and forest animals, and finished it off with another greeting made from cardstock scraps and a few gems.

(Tree and critter stamps - Doodlebug Design Inc.; All other supplies - Stampin’ Up!)

VIDEO CARD

(All supplies - Stampin’ Up!)

THIS WEEK’S CARDS

What ideas do you have for decorating the cardstock mats for this layout? What are some ways you would change up the layout?

Thank you so much for stopping by. Until next time …

Stamp Happy!

Kim