Happy Monday!
Today marks Day One of Spring Break around here. So far so good. Under threat of losing their screen access for the entire two weeks, the younger two are actually off with friends playing at the school. Gasp! Long may it last, am I right?
It’s been awhile since I did an official Make It Monday post. I have jotted down weekly prompts and ideas for myself in my blog planner but … every week something else trumps it. So … are you sitting down? I followed the prompt this week!
Say what?!
I had help though. I recently purchased a magazine at the grocery store because it had some free metal border dies in it. After opening the package I discovered it had more than that! Included was a whole package of shabby chic patterned papers! Awesome!
Now, Shabby Chic is not typically my style. I tend towards brighter, cleaner colours and more whimsical stamps, stickers, and embellishments. But … I’m always up for a challenge so I rolled up my sleeves, got out my Soft Suede ink pad, and got busy! Here are the results of my efforts.
Card #1 – Happy Birthday card with Fussy Cut Roses
I started with the background blue pattern and some fussy cut roses from another of the patterns in the pack. Then I wanted to recreate the lovely layered scalloped edge that I’d seen on the cover of the magazine so I cracked open the packet of dies and tried to figure it out. To make that bottom scalloped edge on this card, you have to layer the three dies together. One die cuts a clean large scallop, the second die cuts out all the detail bits in the middle, and the third die cuts that bottom scalloped scallop edge.
Clear as mud? I didn’t film this as I was playing with new to me products and a style that I don’t work with very often so I didn’t want the added pressure of having the camera catch my every stumble! But now that I’ve got a few cards under my belt I may film the process for you. Would you like that?
As a finishing touch I put a row of tiny drops of liquid pearls along the top edge of the scallop, and added groups of tiny dots to the flowers.
Card #2 – Easter Blessings Oval Cut Out Window with Layered Flowers
I’ve got some nested oval dies from Tim Holtz that I’ve used before to make Easter Eggs. I thought it would be fun to use one here to make a window through which you can see another of the patterned papers from the pack. I chose one with a bit of lace detail at the bottom and then fussy cut more roses from another part of that paper to layer over top. After I’d stamped my greeting, I took the Liquid Pearls and filled in the tiny polka dots on the paper with dots of the Liquid Pearls instead. I love the shimmer and texture it adds.
Card #3 – Easter Blessings with Butterflies and Paper Roses
I’d been using my Soft Suede ink to ink the edges of everything as it lends itself nicely to that shabby chic, distressed look. But I wanted to take things a step further so I roughed up the edges of my background paper with my scissors. There are fancy tools that you can buy to do this for you but opening up your scissors and scraping the edge up and down the sides of your papers works just as well. And if you tear the paper a bit it’s okay. In fact, that adds to the distressed look quite nicely!
Once I’d distressed the edges and glued it down onto my card base, I looked for items in my stash that would compliment the paper. I’d already stamped my sentiment on a scrap of the pink polka dot, so added a little bit of lace ribbon behind it for texture. Then I grabbed a piece of card stock, in a colour that is a close match to the brightest colour in the flowers, and die cut a butterfly out of it. I also die cut the same butterfly out of a piece of one of the more neutral papers from the pack intending to layer the two on the card. It’s subtle but it’s a nice way to add more visual interest to the card. Last but not least, I glued on three paper flowers from my stash and liberally sprinkled the card with gold mist.
Card #4 – Happy Birthday With a Doily
Adding the lace ribbon in the card previously, reminded me that I have many a doily in my stash and that doilies and shabby chic style go hand in hand!
In the same pack of nested oval dies, are two scalloped edge dies. Instead of bothering with the hassle of stacking and layering the dies from the magazine, I used the larger scalloped die to create a border out of the darkest part of the pink polka dot paper. I’d already cut out this trio of roses so it was easy to layer the two together over the doily. I used the same scissor distressing technique for the edges of the background paper again but didn’t continue it onto the other paper elements on the card. To finish I added several pearls from my stash.
Okay that’s it for today. If you liked these cards and would like to see one come together on camera, leave me a comment. I’m happy to oblige!
Have a great week. If your kids are also on Spring Break and already driving you nuts … you’re not alone! LOL! Hang in there. It’s only two weeks after all!
Cheers!