I’d like to be able to tell you what inspired today’s card, but I can’t. It was one of those occasions where I just pulled out a piece of pattered paper and started playing. I remember noticing the very dark pine needle branch and liking the contrast with the other greens. So that lead me to the black card base. I had absolutely no intention of using the inked-embossing folder technique when I started, but that happened too. Sometimes you just have to stop thinking too hard and go with the flow.

BOLD CONTRASTS

So as I said, today’s project started with the patterned paper. This pattern is from the Forever Greenery 12″ x 12″ Designer Series Paper (DSP) pack and is one of my favourites. For that reason I began by cutting a piece 4″ x 5-1/4″ to almost fill the front of a standard A2 card base.

Initially I thought I’d use Pretty Peacock as my contrasting colour but I loved how it looked against black. So using my Paper Trimmer I cut and scored a piece of Basic Black Card. Then I folded it along the scored line and sharpened the crease with a Bone Folder.

As I looked at the paper against the card base I decided I needed a layer between the DSP and the black. So for that I chose Just Jade Card. The only problem was then it would all but cover the black. So I trimmed the DSP down to 3-3/4″ x 5″, and cut the Just Jade card to 3-7/8″ x 5-1/8″. Then using Multipurpose Liquid Glue (Tombow) I mounted the DSP onto the card layer. Now when I fixed the layers to the card base with Stampin’ Dimensionals I still had the bold contrast I was looking for.

I wanted to repeat the contrast on the inside of the card so I cut a 4″ x 5-1/4″ piece of Whisper White Card. Then with liquid glue I fixed a 3/4″ x 5-1/4″ strip of the DSP down the right-hand edge. Next I found a 1/8″ strip of Basic Black Card among my scraps and glued that up against the DSP. With that done I used more liquid glue to fix the assembled layer inside the card base.

I cut one final piece of the DSP and glued that to the flap of a Whisper White Medium Envelope. Then using Paper Snips I trimmed the DSP using the edge of the flap as my guide.

INKED EMBOSSING FOLDER

Turning back to the front of the card I chose the “You can do this” sentiment from the Forever Fern Stamp Set. Looking among my scraps of Whisper White Card I found a strip with one end cut at an angle. I thought this looked interesting so I stamped the sentiment onto it using Tuxedo Black ink. Then I trimmed the other end square and set it aside.

At this point I realised that I needed something ‘more’ on the front of the card but had no idea what that might be. Sitting on the desk I still had my scraps of Just Jade Card and I began to try out various pieces under the sentiment. In my head I thought I would probably cut one of the pieces using a die with a stitched edge. That would add a little more interest, but I hesitated because I thought it might be too plain.

That’s when I began to consider embossing the scrap of card instead. I looked at quite a few embossing folders, and in the end settled on the woven design in the Wrapped In Texture Embossing Folders pack. When I used the dotted folder from the same pack a little while ago I’d used the ink embossed technique to great effect. So I thought it would be fun to see how this second folder looked with ink in the embossing.

I opened up the folder and wiped the surface of my Just Jade ink pad over both sides. This way I could decide which side I preferred once it was embossed. Then I placed the scrap of Just Jade Card inside the folder and closed it, then ran it through my machine. When I opened up the folder I wasn’t disappointed. The detail was really crisp and the ink just added to it. Finally I felt I had what I needed to complete the front of my card.

I cut more Basic Black card to fit under the sentiment and the embossed piece and mounted them both using liquid glue. Then I added the embossed piece to the card front with Stampin’ Dimensionals. For the layered sentiment I also used Stampin’ Dimensionals, but only at the ends. The centre of the sentiment would be supported by the embossed layer below.

Finally my project was complete, and despite the fact that I’d started without a plan, I love how it turned out.

PRODUCT LIST

BUNDLE BONUS – I bought the Forever Fern Stamp Set in a bundle with the coordinating Forever Flourishing Dies (not used today) using a single ‘bundle’ item number. This meant I saved 10% off the cost of buying the two items separately. I’ve included a link to the bundle below in case you want to explore that option.

To see a project using the other embossing folder in the Wrapped In Texture Embossing Folders pack, check out my blog post Seeing spots and drawing lines.