This Layered Leaves Background Card is easier than you might think…
Really! This layered leaves background card uses die cut labels that make it easy to add a lot of delicate details to this card.
I used a number of the newer/returning Stampin’ Up! colours for this layered leaves background card – and I think it might almost look a little autumnal…but I couldn’t wait until then to share it! Using Wild Wheat as the backdrop, with foliage die cut from Pretty Peacock, Moody Mauve and Mossy Meadow. I also used Very Vanilla for the sentiment label and card, as I felt it went better with the tones of the colours I ended up choosing. I tend to automatically reach for Basic White – so every once in a while I have to remind myself that there are other options!! [What about you – are you a Very Vanilla or Basic White kind of crafter??]
The background layer is textured with one of the Basics 3D Embossing Folders. I love these folders that are part of the Online Exclusives. Stampin’ Up! Online Exclusive Products are items that are available for purchase, either through the YamStamps Online Stampin’ Up! Canada store, or by contacting me and having me place the order for you. You just won’t find them in a catalogue. Stampin’ Up! is able to offer different items and will replenish stock as able, and add new offerings every few months – in fact, there’s a new set of products added to the selection as of 6 July!
To add these layers, I basically cut one of the leafy frames from the Timeless Arrangements dies twice from each of the cardstocks. I added adhesive to the back of the die cut sentiment, and then arranged the different leaf die cuts – one showing out the top, and one showing out the bottom. I trimmed the rectangular base of the die cut as needed so it didn’t overhang the sentiment. The sentiment is from the Timeless Arrangements stamp set, and I stamped it in Pretty Peacock ink (the rectangular die is also from the Timeless Arrangements dies). You can get the Timeless Arrangements stamp set and dies together in a discounted bundle during the 2023-2024 Annual Catalogue sales period. (They may be available after that if they are not retired, but as individual items only. Stampin’ Up! tends to offer the discounted bundles only for one catalogue sales period).
The small sentiments actually can fit on the little rectangular bar too! To make it simpler for me, I stuck to using just the one die cut with the leafy sprays on it. The finishing touch for this layered leaves background card was a few Flat Adhesive-Backed Pearls because everything is more fun when there’s bling.
You can shop for any of these products 24/7 in Canada at https://yamstamps.com/shop or contact me for assistance placing your order or if you’d like to pay by etransfer.
The next edition of the YamStamps Newsletter goes out on Tuesday (4 July) to my subscribers. Each weekly edition contains some sort of paper crafting inspiration, information and ideas – but the first newsletter of each month is a little more jam packed – I usually have at least 3 different projects there, including one that focuses on a technique. This month, there’s an easy and effective card, a cool technique and a fancy fold card. Click here to subscribe or use the box at the top of the blog page.
If you’re a new subscriber, you’ll get a free video tutorial for a fancy fold card. If you’re an existing subscriber, you’ll have already received the tutorial when you first signed up (but you can always contact me if you can’t remember where to access it).
Typically, birthday cards are how a lot of crafters get into card making – because we always need birthday cards to send (at least once a year…). Using the coordinating dies to create a balloon and tying a tag to the balloon makes it more interesting. On this card, the balloon was die cut from the Bright & Beautiful Designer Series Paper (on sale until 30 June 2023…), and then adhered onto a balloon die cut from the Gold Celebrations Specialty Designer Series Paper (which is printed heavy duty window sheets).
A great way to “hide” adhesive when crafting with acetate or window sheets is to use an Adhesive Sheet! I applied the Adhesive Sheet to the back of the Gold Celebrations Specialty DSP before die cutting the balloon. After it was die cut, I peeled off the adhesive liner, then attached it to the Bright & Beautiful DSP die cut balloon before adding it to the front of the Beautiful Balloon Birthday Card with Stampin’ Dimensionals. Since the adhesive is covering the entire surface of the balloon, it’s more difficult to see – as compared to using double sided tape or glue dots – you often can see the borders of the adhesive.
I added texture to the background with the dotted Basics 3D Embossing Folder and used the accent colour of Azure Afternoon (one of my most used new colours…) for the ink and cardstock. I love using embossing folders for the backgrounds – it adds interest and texture without being too distracting.
I know we are looking forward to the upcoming long weekend, but don’t forget that the Designer Series Paper Sale and the Starter Kit+ Promotion both end Friday 30 June! Don’t miss out on the savings! Message me if you have any questions or need assistance completing an order.
This card features the Delightfully Eclectic Designer Series Paper. This paper offering is a little unique because most 12″ x 12″ paper offered by Stampin’ Up! comes in a package of 12 sheets – 2 each of 6 different double sided papers. The Delightfully Eclectic DSP has four times as many sheets! It has 48 sheets, 4 each of 12 different (and eclectic…) double sided papers – so it’s fantastic for making multiples of the same card, or doing combinations of cards and 3D items or scrapbook pages that all coordinate.
We made this card in a recent Online Club get together. It’s a 3-1/2″ square of DSP, cut into equal squares of 1-3/4″. That way, if you keep the squares in the same arrangement, the pattern flows across all the squares. If you’ve been following the YamStamps blog for a while, you will realize that this is something that I really like to do with my card designs. I feel like the continuous pattern looks more cohesive (and also soothes my need for some order – at least I can have that in my paper crafting projects, since it’s often lacking elsewhere in my life it seems!!).
The next step is to fold back the corner of each square that is closest to the centre of the design. That can be a little fiddly, but it’s do-able. One of the tricks I shared in the Club is to mark the corner first so when you move it to fold the corner, you remember which one it is!! Once you’ve folded the corner, you see how you are able to show off your paper – both sides of it!
The Delightfully Eclectic DSP is part of the current DSP sale, so you can grab this super sized package at 15% off – but only until 30 June – hard to believe, but that’s this Friday!!! Shortcut to shop 24/7 in Canada is https://yamstamps.com/shop with delivery directly to your door. If you need assistance placing an order, or would like to pay by etransfer, you can send me a message and I’ll be in touch to finalize everything for you.
Get FREE SHIPPING this Wednesday 21 June 2023 ONLY!
Woohoo! Pay no shipping on your order tomorrow, Wednesday 21 June if you order $100CAD product (after discounts/before taxes)! Shortcut to shopping is yamstamps.com/shop – 24/7 online shopping with delivery to your door in Canada!
By the way…did you know that you NEVER pay shipping on a Demonstrator Starter Kit?! During June, your Starter Kit will contain $206CAD product OF YOUR CHOICE for just $135CAD! (That’s $41 more product than the usual great offer). FAQs about joining my group of Stampin’ Up! Demonstrators is here, or you can email me. We’d love to have you join us!
In any case – FREE SHIPPING for a limited time – so get in on the savings!
Check out the new format Stampin’ Write Markers and get an exclusive card tutorial if you order them by Tuesday 13 June 2023!
New Feature – PRODUCT FOCUS! In the first Product Focus, I’m spotlighting Stampin’ Up!’s Stampin’ Write Markers. They have been updated as of May 2023, so I’ll point out the differences and show a few tips for using them in your crafting.
Stampin’ Write Markers are a great way to extend the colours you use in your crafting if you don’t have all the ink pads (yet!).
Stampin’ Write Markers currently available (if you click on the link, be sure to enter the host code Z3RJNNF7 so I can get your tutorial to you! see below for where to enter the host code).
Check out this image to see where to enter the host code (if it’s not already there). It should show that you’re shopping with me (top blue circle). Lower right hand blue circle is where you click to add the host code, if it’s not already in there!
Here’s a fun die cut card to celebrate any occasion – and it’s quick and easy to make (of course!)
This is a fun die cut card to celebrate any occasion (graduation? birthday? making it to Friday?) and it uses some of the Designer Series Paper that’s included in the sale! This card ticks all the boxes for me – shiny, quick, and easy!
I love the colours in the Bright & Beautiful Designer Series Paper, and I love shiny things…so combining them is a win-win in my books. This card also helps you stretch your crafting dollar (even more when you buy the paper in June since it’s on sale haha). You can get away with smaller pieces of the DSP and More Dazzle Paper because of the card design.
You can customize this card by adjusting the size of gap. Just cut the DSP and More Dazzle (or whatever paper you’re using as the revealed paper) to the same height. I think this DSP was about 3″ in width and then I die cut towards one edge with one of the Basic Borders dies. The die has the stitching effect on both sides of the cut so this made the design super easy. I just eyeballed the distance to the edge of the paper – no hard things likemeasuring for me when I can get away with it!. I used about 1-1/2″ of the More Dazzle Paper and then just arranged my DSP so that I had an even border at the sides. I used Stampin’ Dimensionals on the DSP, and secured the larger piece in place first, then added the More Dazzle Paper and then the second piece of DSP. I added a die cut Stylish Shapes banner with the sentiment from the Beautiful Balloons stamp set. Starry Sky Cardstock and Starry Sky Ink tie everything together on this fun die cut card to celebrate any occasion.
This is a fun die cut card to celebrate an occasion but you can customize this design by changing out the papers and sentiments to suit your card sending needs. It’s the perfect time to stock up on some patterned paper during the Designer Series Paper Sale – and don’t forget that you can add sale priced items to your Starter+ Kit – during June you now get $206CAD in product of your choice – that’s $41 more than usual! You can always contact me if you have any questions or need assistance placing an order (or want to pay by etransfer). Now – what occasion do you have to celebrate?!
Also from 1-30 June, Starter Kit+! The Demonstrator Starter Kit is always a great way to start your business – loaded with $165CAD of product of your choice plus basic business supplies for just $135CAD (no shipping costs, no PST/HST). During June, it’s an even BETTER deal – get $206 worth of product for the same $135! An additional $41 worth of product! Double down on your cost effectiveness by getting some of the sale priced DSP in your starter kit!
We’d love to have you join the “Eh” Team – my group of Stampin’ Up! Canada Demonstrators! FAQs are here at YamStamps.com/join or you can message me.
Here are cards that will wow….but make them work for it a bit!!
My upcoming online class, Interactive Cards, features cards that will slide, flip and reveal hidden images or messages. The person who receives the card will have to do a little work to see everything, but it’s worth it!! They’ll be SO impressed.
You can get in on Early Bird / Pre-Launch pricing until 31 May! Save $10CAD off the regular price for lifetime access and you’ll be ready to start 1 June when the class site launches.
Check out the video – you’ll learn how to make these fun projects!!
These cards are lots of fun – both for the person who gets to make it, and the person who gets to receive it!
Early bird pricing is only available for a limited time. After that, you can still register at full price for a while longer. Check out all the details here. If you have any questions, you can always contact me!
A slight change in a card fold – and what a difference!
My cards are not usually over complicated, and I do always like a nice, clean layout. For Stampers Club in May, I designed a card that showcased some of the new Stampin’ Up! Colours, and used some Rose Gold Foil for a die cut because shiny is always good in my books!! I liked the first version I came up with, but a little tweak and what a difference!
So this was the first version…
Showing off the Artistic Dies and Rose Gold Specialty Paper, on a background of Moody Mauve and Pebbled Path, on a Crumb Cake cardbase. I do love the effect, and putting an Adhesive Sheet on the back of the Rose Gold Specialty Paper before diecutting makes adding the intricate die cut to the cardfront so much easier. I didn’t add a sentiment to this, but was thinking I could add something in Pebbled Path ink at the right corner below the focal piece.
I did think it was a bit “ordinary” though, so using the exact same cardstock pieces, I just created a gatefold card rather than a side fold card, and added two strips of Rose Gold Specialty Paper to the edge of the cardstock and LOOK – what a difference! I think it makes it look so much more special and interesting!
Also an unfair advantage perhaps – what a difference lighting makes! The angle that I had to photograph the card really emphasized the shininess of the foil which you can’t see as much in the other card photo. HOWEVER, I do think that the gatefold card for this kind of a layout makes a much more striking impression, don’t you?
So there’s an idea for you for if you think your card design is “okay” but you want to give it a bit of a lift – try changing up the fold! Instead of scoring your 8.5″ x 5.5″ cardstock at 4.25″ for a side or top fold card, score 2.125″ (2-1/8″) in from each edge of the card, and make a gatefold card instead! (Just make sure you only adhere the focal piece only on one side of the card….otherwise you stick your card shut).
My Stampers Club is meeting online via Zoom, and members have access to the recording so they can make their cards at their own leisure. The advantage of “virtual” club is that club members don’t have to be local to Burlington! Club members join for a 6 month period. Club requirements are a minimum product order each month using either the club host code or by emailing me with their order. We meet online once a month to assemble that month’s club cards (project kits are either picked up or mailed via Canada Post); once during each membership period, club members will earn the host benefits from that month’s club orders (aka FREE product! Guaranteed minimum $20). Check out the YamStamps Events Page for dates and more information, and message me if you’re interested in joining us or want more information!
