ThePowerOfACard: February 2024

Tuesday, February 20, 2024

Thoughtful Expressions - a Great Layering Set of Dies

The Thoughtful Expressions Bundle has the most wonderful set of dies! The stamp set is lovely, but if it wasn't your style, you might overlook the dies and in my opinion, that would be a mistake! The dies have shapes for the stamped images, but also, two sets of layering shapes and some additional leaves and flowers. The roundish shape has six sizes to layer and the label has four which makes this a wonderfully versatile die set.

We will be making a book binding style card in the video - I really love this layout because it's a square card within a rectangular card! Additionally, I will show you how to lengthen your label die. This technique of partial die cutting is very useful and will allow you to get way more usage of your dies since you can both lengthen or shorten the resulting piece of die cut paper.

Gather your supplies:

Cardstock: Shaded Spruce 4-1/4" x 11", scrap; Basic White (2) 4" x 4", 1" x 4", 1-3/8" x 3-3/4", scrap, Sunny Days DSP 4" x 4", 3/8" x 4"
Stamp Bundle: Thoughtful Expressions
Ink: Shaded Spruce
Other: Festive Pearls
Adhesive and Tools

Begin by scoring the card base at 5-1/2" and 4-1/4". Fold the card in half and then fold the front back and give the score lines a good crease with your bone folder. You can glue the left side together since we aren't adding any ribbon. Add the small strip of DSP to the center of the 1" x 4" white rectangle and adhere that to the left side. Add the white square to the front flap.

To make our label, take the smallest label shape and place it on end of the remaining white rectangle. Place this on the cutting plate but do not cover the entire die with the top plate - stop the plate just short of the curved end. Run this through the Stampin' Cut & Emboss machine. The result will be a partially die cut label.

Next position the die so that the resulting shape will be lengthened. Because of the impressions around the edges of the label, the die will "lock" into place. This time place the plate over the other end of the die (leaving the rounded part that is over the middle of the label) uncovered and cut again. It is helpful to use a sticky note to hold the die in place while cutting.

The final result is a long label! While cutting, also cut the largest roundish shape from the center of the DSP and the leaves and flowers from the scraps.

Stamp the sentiment on the right side of the label. On the other white square, stamp the flowers in the lower left corner and the sentiment next to it. Also stamp the flowers on the envelope corner. Now we can finish assembling the card. I cut off the largest leaf from the one grouping of leaves and added them to the left side of the label. After adding some dimension by curling the flowers with my fingers, I added then to the leaves and finished them with the Festive Pearls. The DSP shape gets added to the front of the card and the label is popped up on top.

Many of my examples were cards I displayed at my Open House and as such, feature many of the papers and other items that you can get for FREE during Sale-a-Bration. SAB lasts until the end of February, so hurry to get these (and so many more) now! These first two are using the label (smallest and largest). I love both of the because they are simple and quick to make, but look fancy due to the label. I used the Softly Sophisticated bundle on the left and the Meandering Meadows DSP as a backdrop for the flower and sentiment from the Thoughtful Expressions Bundle.

The next two cards are from a swap I did with other demonstrators (another great benefit of joining Stampin' Up!). The first is from Cindy Westerink and I love how she uses the papers in the Softly Stippled DSP as wedges to make a color blocked card, only with paper! The second card is from Polly Libby, who also featured the Layered Florals 3D embossing folder. Her label is more subtle and functions to set apart the floral arrangement from the background.

My next card highlights the adorable birds from the Flight & Airy DSP and uses a larger die to mat the DSP. Lastly, I used just the whimsical flower die to make this sharp black card. The sentiment if from Softly Said, one of our on-line exclusive products.

If you haven't noticed these dies, the bundle is found on pages 60-62 of the Jan-April Mini catalog and is part of the Poetic Expressions suite. I know you will love having these dies!!

Karen

ThePowerOfACard@gmail.com

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Product List

Thoughtful Expressions Bundle (English)

[162822]

$55.75

Shaded Spruce 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[146981]

$10.00

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[159276]

$10.50

Sunny Days 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Designer Series Paper

[162974]

$12.50

Shaded Spruce Classic Stampin' Pad

[147088]

$9.00

Festive Pearls

[159963]

$7.00

Basic White Medium Envelopes

[159236]

$8.50

Paper Trimmer

[152392]

$26.00

Multipurpose Liquid Glue

[110755]

$5.50

Stampin' Dimensionals

[104430]

$4.25

Paper Snips

[103579]

$11.00

Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine

[149653]

$128.00

Tuesday, February 6, 2024

Vellum Techniques for Card Makers

Vellum is an a wonderful paper to use when making your cards! I love the vellum from Stampin' Up! because it's heavyweight, which makes it ideal for some of the techniques I'm going to show you in my video. I have eight different ways to use vellum on your cards! That also means lots of sample cards to show you! I'm going to make a simple card so that I have enough time to show you all eight techniques. I also have some tips on adhering vellum.

Gather your supplies:

Cardstock: Gorgeous Grape 8-1/2" x 5-1/2"; Basic White 4 x 5-1/4", 2-1/2" x 4", 1/2" x 4"; Crumb Cake 4" x 5-1/4"; Perennial Lavender DSP 2" x 5-1/4", 1" x 3"; Vellum 3-1/2" square
Stamp Bundle: Painted Lavender
Stamp: Perennial Postage
Die: Stylish Shapes
Punch: Banners Pick a Punch
Ink: Highland Heather, Fresh Freesia, Gorgeous Grape
Ribbon: Baker's Twine Essentials (white) 8"
Other: Basics 3D Embossing Folder, Purple Fine Shimmer Gems
Adhesive and Tools

Technique 1 - Simple Shapes as Layers

Layers of vellum are wonderful because they allow you to see what's beneath it, while providing a little separation for your other design elements. To begin building our feature card, start by stamping the lavender flowers on the medium sized piece of white. Stamp with both Highland Heather and Fresh Freesia and use the second stamping of each for the interior panel. Stamp two sets of little flowers in Gorgeous Grape, as well as the butterflies. While the Gorgeous Grape ink pad is still out, stamp the sentiments for the front on the small strip of white, and the inside sentiment over the stamped-off flowers on the large white panel. Cut out the flowers, butterflies and vellum circle on the Stampin' Cut & Emboss machine.

Before attaching the Crumb Cake layer to the card front, emboss it with the Basics 3D embossing folder. Add the floral strip vertically down the center of this panel. Layer the two bunches of lavender on the vellum and sprinkle with the additional little flowers. Attach a white bow to the bottom the bouquet with Mini Glue Dots. To attach the vellum to the DSP, apply adhesive underneath the flowers so it won't show through. Add the butterflies (with just glue, or Mini Dimensionals). Use the punch to flag the ends of the sentiment strip and the small piece of DSP. Adhere the strip to the DSP, then pop up the combo with Dimensionals. Add a few Purple Gems to both ends of the sentiment.

The next example features the Zany Zoo Bundle and Zoo Crew DSP. I colored the raccoon with Blends and popped him up on a rectangle of vellum. This is a very simple card (although it looks pretty impressive!) that would be great for making multiples. The next one is a swap card I received from Cindy Westerink. It uses the Everyday Details Dies, the Notes of Nature Bundle, Nature's Sweetness DSP, the Basics 3D Embossing folder and Iridescent Foil Gems. It is essentially the same layout, but with additional strips of DSP.

This technique is further enhanced when you use patterned vellum. The Vellum Basics pack has vellum with three different patterns - polka dots, stripes and leaves. This next card uses the leaf pattern as the layering shape, along with the Perennial Postage Bundle, Paper Butterfly Accents, Perennial Lavender DSP, ribbon (Real Red and Burlap Combo) and more of the Purple Fine Shimmer Gems.

Technique 2 - Alcohol Markers (Stampin' Blends) and Alcohol

For this technique, I recommend using 91% alcohol, as the lower strength versions don't yield the same results. I give a quick demo in this video where I do two variations - the first uses two shades of color and a paint brush to dab alcohol on the color splotches, and the second one has a single color and fine spritzes of alcohol from a paintbrush or toothbrush. I made a video on this technique a few years ago (Blends + Vellum + Alcohol = Spectacular!) - please watch it to see more detail on this incredibly fun technique. (By the way, the glass mat is a wonderful surface for this technique - you can get it by joining my team this month!)

My first sample card is so stinking cute! I used the Cutest Cows Bundle on top of a background of sky and grass. I used two shades of blues (Azure Afternoon and Tahitian Tide) for the sky and dark/light Granny Apple Green for the grass. Once the vellum was dry, I stamped grass blades on top. You do need to give this a long time to dry because vellum isn't porous like paper and the ink stays wet way longer than you're used to. The Black & White Gingham ribbon is the perfect addition to this scene.

The next card was made with the Paper Florist Dies. The textures you get with the paintbrush blending method look fabulous for the petals. The leaves were made with the splatter method. The circle is from Stylish Shapes, the background was embossed with the Timber 3D embossing folder and the sentiment is from So Sincere. The final touch was the addition of the Adhesive-Backed Cork Rounds.

Technique 3 - Die Cut Intricate Pieces

This is particularly great for greenery. It is amazing how the simple addition of a vellum sprig or two will enhance your card! The Pebbled Path card uses Nature's Sweetness DSP, Notes of Nature, Gorgeously Made Dies, Baker's Twine Essentials and the 2023-2025 In-Color Dots. The second card was one I featured a few months ago in a video where I sandwiched a layer of vellum cut with the Gorgeous Garden dies. The sentiment is from Go To Greetings.

Technique 4 - Dry Embossing

When you use an embossing folder on vellum (here is where you will really appreciate the weight of SU vellum), the result is almost two-tone. You'll get white areas in the de-bossed sections - very cool indeed! I used the Basics 3D embossing folder and paired it with the Thoughtful Expressions Bundle, Basic White Herringbone Ribbon and the 2023-2025 In-Color Dots.

Technique 5 - Punched Shapes

We have quite a few punches that lend themselves to vellum - examples include Ladybug Builder, Bough, Dragonflies, Country Bouquet and the Bee Builder that I used in this card. I also used the Bee My Valentine stamp set, Bee Mine DSP, Tailor Made Tags and the Black & White Gingham ribbon.

Technique 6 - Heat Embossing

Heat embossing is always magical, but I am particularly fond of it on vellum. You will notice that the embossing powder melts faster on vellum than cardstock. I love the flowers and sentiment (from Sentimental Park stamp set) embossed in white (Basics Stampin' Emboss Powder) over the Masterfully Made DSP. I cut the vellum longer than the DSP layer so I could wrap it around the back and attach it. I also dabbed a little bit of glue under the letters and a few flowers to help it stay flat to the card.

Technique 7 - Stained Glass

For this technique, stamp on the vellum with Stazon ink. Then color on the reverse side with either Blends or Watercolor Pencils. The first sample was one I made several years ago. I stamped the flowers from Nature's Harvest (retired) and colored with a white pencil yielding a stunning focal point for the card. The sentiment is from Encircled in Friendship, also retired.

I used this technique for the tiger (Jungle Pals, one of the Sale-a-Bration free sets) and colored with light/dark Pumpkin Pie Stampin' Blends. For the jungle leaves, I simply colored the vellum with Old Olive Blends before cutting out with the Jungle Pals Dies.

Technique 8 - Watercolor

You might be surprised by this one, but it will work! I used my Water Painter to add streaks of blue sky across the top of my vellum panel. The vellum will curl, so you don't want to do a lot of coloring this way. For my easel card, it was easy to secure the colored vellum behind the opening cut with the Nested Essentials Dies to eliminate the curling. I also used sentiments from Zany Zoo and Trusty Tools.

Have fun experimenting with vellum! Which technique will you try first? Which one is new to you? I'd love to hear from you on both questions.