Do you need to have a plan when crafting, or are you happy to just “wing it”? To be honest pretty much everything I do has an element of unknown for me. Sometimes I’ll sit down with a vague idea in my head, other times I’m completely blank and have no clue what I’m going to make. The only certainty about today’s project was that it would be a birthday card. So let’s just say that the fancy trim and customised paper I ended up creating were a total surprise.

COLOURFUL STRIPES

I remember thinking that I wanted to use the simple grey striped paper from the Let’s Go Fishing 12″ x 12″ Designer Series Paper (DSP) pack. The information on the packaging told me that the grey was actually Pebbled Path, one of the 2023-2025 In Colors. So I began by using my Paper Trimmer to cut and score some Pebbled Path Card. Then I folded it along the scored line and sharpened the crease with a Bone Folder.

As I reached for the DSP I realised that if I wanted the stripes to all go in the same direction I wouldn’t be able to start with a 6″ x 6″ square. So first I cut a 2-1/4″ x 6″ piece and noted that the stripes ran down from top left to the bottom right. Then, making sure the stripes ran from the top left to bottom right, I cut a piece 3″ wide x 4-1/4″ high. Finally I cut a third piece 4″ wide x 3/4″ high, again paying attention to the direction of the stripes.

It was only then that I started thinking about adding colour and grey and yellow seemed like fun combination. So I cut a piece of Lemon Lolly Card at 3-1/8″ x 4-3/8″ as a mat for the main layer.

While I looked at the pieces of DSP I suddenly wondered what it would look like if I added colour to it. I had the new Lemon Lolly Stampin’ Blends right there and it couldn’t hurt to try. Mind you, in case it didn’t go well I tested out my idea on the smallest piece first. I wasn’t completely daft. lol.

So using just the dark Lemon Lolly Stampin’ Blends I proceeded to colour along just the wide white stripes on the paper. Suffice to say the experiment was a success and I went on to colour the other two DSP pieces to match.

FANCY FINISH

With the paper alterations complete I used Multipurpose Liquid Glue to attach the 2-1/4″ x 6″ piece to the flap of a Basic White Medium Envelope. Then I trimmed off the excess with my Paper Snips, using the edge of the flap as a guide.

Next I glued the 3/4″ x 4″ strip along the bottom of a 4″ x 5-1/4″ piece of Basic White Card. Then I glued this layer inside the card base.

Finally I mounted the remaining striped piece onto the Lemon Lolly Card and prepared to add it to the card front. That’s when I thought it could probably do with something else and reached for the 2023-2025 In Colour Jute Trim.

I planned to tie a bow from the Pebbled Path twine but somehow it seemed a bit too chunky. That wasn’t a problem… I’d simply remove one of the three strands to slim it down a little. But as I pulled on one strand I sort of pushed the rest of the twine down the thread. That’s when these really interesting fancy loops began to appear. So I stopped right there and carefully wrapped the twine around the layered DSP. After securing the ends on the back with Tear & Tape Adhesive I added Stampin’ Dimensionals and attached the layer to my card front.

For my sentiment I chose the medium-sized “Happy Birthday” from the Go To Greetings Stamp Set. I stamped it onto some Basic White Card with Pebbled Path ink then decided to cut it out using the smallest ‘oval’ die from the Something Fancy Dies. Finally I attached it to the card with Stampin’ Dimensionals and my surprising project was done.

I have to say I love how this card turned out. It’s a simple layout, but customising the DSP and then creating that fancy effect with the twine really adds interest don’t you think?

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