If you’ve been making cards for years like me you’ll know nothing is really new. While I do try different ideas and techniques many of the trends go in cycles. I’ve also found that, at least in my studio, I revisit the same card layouts. One that I don’t think I’ve used in a while invokes the power of three. Three matted layers, three colours, three embellishments, and today, even three words in the sympathy sentiment. It all started with the Delicate Desert 12” x 12” Designer Series Paper (DSP).
DELICATE DESIGNS
Did you know that when Stampin’ Up! are putting together their paper packs they actively consider coordination. So you’ll often find that two patterns that go really well together are on either side of the same sheet. This is how I started on today’s simple card, with a single double-sided sheet from the Delicate Desert DSP pack.
Having decided on the paper I looked at the back of the pack to see which colours were used. One side my chosen paper is Cajun Craze while the other is Gray Granite. The darker Cajun Craze colour would be perfect for the card mats, while I could use Gray Granite for my card base. With that decided it was time to start cutting and sticking.
First I cut a 2-1/4″ x 6″ piece of the DSP. Using Multipurpose Liquid Glue (Tombow) on the Gray Granite side I fixed the DSP onto the flap of a Basic White Medium Envelope. Then I trimmed off the excess paper with Paper Snips, using the edge of the flap as a guide.
Now I needed three more pieces of the DSP. I cut the first at 2-7/8″ x 4-5/8″m the second at 2-1/4″ x 2-1/4″, and the last one 3/4″ x 5-1/4″.
For the Cajun Craze mat layers I needed three also. The first I cut at 3″ x 4-3/4″ then glued the largest of my DSP pieces to it with the Gray Granite pattern showing. The second piece of card I cut at 2-3/8″ x 2-3/8″ and glued the DSP square onto that with the Cajun Craze pattern uppermost. I cut the third piece of card at 1-3/4″ x 2-1/8″ and set it aside.
I still had the 3/4″ strip of DSP left and glued that down the right-hand edge of a 4″ x 5-1/4″ layer of Basic White Card. However I decided it looked a little unfinished so I cut a 1/8″ x 5-1/4″ piece of Cajun Craze Card and glued it against the left edge of the DSP strip. This assembled layer would be used later to line my finished card base.
QUICK ASSEMBLY
With all the pieces cut I then went looking for a sympathy sentiment. I quickly found what I needed in the Peaceful Moments Stamp Set. So using Cajun Craze ink I stamped the sentiment onto a 1-5/8″ x 2″ piece of Basic White Card. Then using liquid glue I mounted it onto the last piece of Cajun Craze Card.
Next, using my Paper Trimer I cut and scored some Gray Granite Card. After folding it along the scored line I sharpened the crease with a Bone Folder to create my card base. Then I glued the Basic White liner piece to the inside.
Picking up the largest of my three assembled layers I decided to add extra interest using 6″ of Gray Granite 1/4″ Shimmer Ribbon. I wrapped the ribbon around the layer and secured the ends on the back with Tear & Tape Adhesive. Then I used liquid glue to fix the layer to the card base.
Next came the square layer which I attached using Stampin’ Dimensionals.
Finally using more Stampin’ Dimensionals I added the sentiment. However where it extended past the edge of the square layer I stacked the Dimensionals two-high so it stayed level.
While I liked this card so far I did think it needed a little extra detail. So from the Rustic Metallic Adhesive-Backed Dots I chose the larger size and added one to each visible corner of the square layer. With that my simple symapthy card project was complete.
For some more projects using the Delicate Desert DSP see these earlier blog posts:
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