For many years I’ve been designing cards and other papercraft projects, and sharing them each day. This is no mean feat as, with the occasional post featuring multiple projects, it comes to over 400 different projects in just one year! So I just wanted to say thanks to everyone who has taken time out of their busy day to visit my blog, Facebook page, Instagram, YouTube channel etc. I am blessed to be able to connect with so many people from around the world. Today’s project is for you. Thanks.

HANDMADE BACKGROUND

I began this card as an experiment with one of the new 2022-2024 In Colors, Parakeet Party. This vivid yellow-green takes some getting used to but it’s growing on me.

I started with a 3-7/8″ x 5-1/8″ piece of Very Vanilla Card and using a Blending Brush covered the surface with a light layer of Parakeet Party ink. While I liked the result I thought it needed darker edges and so I reached for my Shaded Spruce ink pad. Then using the Blending Brush again I added this darker ink around the edges of the piece. That was much better.

Finally, to make the edges stand out even more, I used Multipurpose Liquid Glue (Tombow) to mount the layer onto a 4″ x 5-1/4″ piece of Very Vanilla Card.

Just recently I’ve been playing with different ways of using my Stampin’ Write Markers. Yes they’re great for colouring, but the writing tip makes them even more versatile. So from the Regals collection I took the Shaded Spruce marker. Then with the writing tip I simply added groups of three dots over the inked background.

By this point I’d decided on the colour for my card base; Shaded Spruce. So using my Paper Trimmer I cut and scored the card. Then I folded it along the scored line and sharpened the crease with a Bone Folder. Finally, I attached the layered background to the front of the card base with Stampin’ Dimensionals.

I have to say that I really liked how my project was coming together. In fact I liked the background layer so much I decided to make it the coordinating feature for this project. So I repeated the ink brushing and dots on the flap of a Very Vanilla Medium Envelope.

Then I did the same thing to 4″ x 5-1/4″ layer of Very Vanilla Card. Finally I glued this layer inside the card base and set it aside.

BRAGWORTHY THANKS

Now I was ready to create the elements for the front of my card. I wanted something fairly gender-neutral and reached for the Nature’s Prints Stamp Set.

I chose the largest of the leafy images and stamped it onto Thick Very Vanilla Card using Shade Spruce ink. Then I coloured in each leaf using just the light Shaded Spruce Stampin’ Blends alcohol marker. With that done I simply had to cut out the image using the coordinating die from the Natural Prints Dies set.

Next I added the die-cut piece to the background layer using liquid glue. Then as a contrast to the organic leaves I added two strips of Shaded Spruce card from my scraps. First I glued 1/4″ x 3-7/8″ piece 3/4″ from the bottom edge of the layers. Then 1/16″ above that I glued a 1/16″ x 3-7/8″ strip.

That just left the “Thanks” sentiment and I found that in the retiring Bragworthy Stamp Set.

The sentiment actually has additional text below the bold “thanks” which I didn’t want, but that wasn’t a problem. After inking up the stamp I lined up the “thanks” part over a 5/8″ x 2-3/4″ strip of Thick Very Vanilla Card and stamped. With nothing more than a steady hand I was able to alter the original sentiment to suit my needs.

TIP – If you’re not feeling brave why not try my sellotape technique to alter your sentiment/image stamps instead. You’ll find an example of this in my blog post Classic man card.

Finally, using Stampin’ Dimensionals on the back, I added the altered sentiment to the card front I was done.

I have to say I’m really pleased with how today’s project turned out. The custom background really sets off the other elements don’t you think?

PRODUCT LIST

RETIRING PRODUCT – The Bragworthy Stamp Set is retiring and now on sale at 50% off. You’ll find this and all the other retiring products in the Last Chance section of my online store, but only while stocks last.

CONTINUING PRODUCTS

BUNDLE BONUS – I bought the Nature’s Prints Stamp Set in a bundle with the Natural Prints Dies. Buying these products using a single ‘bundle’ item saved me 10% off the cost of buying the same two items separately. I’ve included links for both options below in case you want to explore these further.