Take Your Cards to the Next Level With Paper Engineered Cards

I have finally taken the leap into BLOGGING!  I am excited to share my love for designing cards with you.  Hopefully my blog will help you learn how to take your card making to the next level!  Using the materials, inks and papers you have on hand, inspiration will come to you after you learn a few basics to card design.

I used to work at a stamp store.  The owner would say, "Please design five cards with this stamp today!"  I would panic.  Five hours later, I'd have my first design, if I was lucky!  Slowly but surely, being forced to create with a deadline, I learned some shortcuts and tricks to create cards that were uniquely mine!

I also found that just folding a card in half and stamping on it was boring to me, so you will see that the majority of my cards are NOT cards just folded in half, but manipulated in some way to make them more interesting.  To illustrate this, I will first post some cards that I have designed in the past.  In following weeks, I will show you some easy ways to teach yourself how to become a better designer.  

Below is a card I designed this fall using a basic flip fold I saw online.  I didn't like how the cards fell apart when you opened them, so I added 1/2 inch to the card!  Much better!

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  I am writing detailed directions below, but if you feel a step by step picture tutorial would be better, email me.  If I have enough interest, I will create one OR try to take the step into videos!
• To create this card, cut a card 5 1/2 by 4 1/4 inches and fold in half.
• Cut your shape out of the card. (Cajun Craze cardstock)
• Emboss the front of the card. (Cajun Craze cardstock)
• Cut an inside piece 5 inches by 6 1/2 inches. (Whisper white cardstock)
• Stamp your images on your inside piece then score at 2, 4 and 6 inches. (Whisper white cardstock)
• Put tear tape on the outside edges of the whisper white section that says, "Thanks and Giving."
• Adhere it to the back of the card making sure all three sides are even.
• Fold whisper white card on score lines but leave the half inch piece flat.
• Close the Cajun Craze piece and mark where the leaf design crosses this white half inch piece.
• Cut this section out.
• Cut a leaf out of the color of your choice and decorate it as you wish.  I stamped a leaf image in Momento Black, cut out the leaf with the framelet and then colored it with daubers (or sponges) using Old Olive, Cajun Craze and Crushed Curry ink pads.
• Added tear tape to the 1/2 piece left and closed the card on it.
• Add tear tape to the white that shows from the inside and add your decorated piece to it.  I added the leaf to it.  
• The first time it is difficult to open the card, but after that, perfect!

Comments

[Nancy Lee Black]

I truly love this card! Congrats on your new endeavor! I will be a follower of your blog, that's for sure!