Time for Another Layout

Hello friends.  While meandering through all the interesting Pinterest card ideas, I kept seeing cards that had a similar layout.  This is something that I've used through the years and thought it was time to get it out and try it with current ideas.  I love having layouts that work well through the years and always look fresh and current because of the colors and papers used.  I think this is definitely one of them!  This layout also works well with either a landscape or portrait style card.  Let me show you what I mean.

We'll start with the portrait style card.  This card features the Valley in Bloom Designer Series Paper.  The print is cut to measure 4" x 3 1/2".  Then this piece is cut into 4 pieces with each piece measuring 1" x 3 1/2".  You want to keep these strips in the correct order for constructing your card later.

Next is a layer that measures 4 1/2" x 3 1/4".  This lets the under-layer show on each side when finished.   I used Basic White cardstock for this layer, but you can use whatever works best for your design. Position each of the DSP strips on the layer until it looks right.  Then each strip is attached to the base layer as shown.  Can you see how the DSP ends overlap the white layer on the sides, and the ends of the white layer show at the top and bottom?  That's the basic look you want from this layout.

For the card, Cloud Cover cardstock was chosen as the card base because it blended nicely with the DSP print, and it keeps the whole design sort of 'misty' looking.  It measures 8 1/2" x 5 1/2" and is folded in half.  The white layer is attached to the card base with Dimensionals to enhance the design look.

A sentiment from the Simply Leaves stamp set was used.  I just love this sentiment not only because of what it says, but the two fonts used on each of the sentiments in this set make them really stand out.  It's stamped on a long 1/2" strip of Basic White cardstock using Pretty Peacock ink.  After stamping, the ends were trimmed closer to the words and given a fishtail cut with paper snips to finish it.

The design just needed something more to make it special.  Then I remembered the geometric die that's part of the Lily of the Valley die set.  I die-cut it from Basic White Thick cardstock so it would be a little sturdier.  It's added to the card front with touches of adhesive.  Then the sentiment is attached over this with Dimesionals.

Of course, the design needed just a bit of subtle bling.  The 2026 - 2028 In Color Dots in the Peaceful Pine color were used here.  They're very subtle, but the bit of iridescent shine on them gives the card a soft glisten.  Just what I wanted for this card.

The inside of the card has a white cardstock layer.  There is a 1/2" strip of a different Valley in Bloom print was added to the bottom of this layer before attaching inside.

Now you've seen how this layout works in portrait style cards, let's see how the same layout works for a landscape style card.

This time, my DSP layer comes from the Waterside Retreat Designer Series Paper.  The design pictured is bigger than the 4" x 3 1/2" that is needed for this layout.  It needed a little creative cutting - some off the top, the bottom, and the left side to get the correct dimensions. Then the piece was cut into 1" strips for the design.

Again, I used Basic White for the backing layer which measures 4 1/2" x 3 1/4".  The strips were arranged on this and attached with adhesive.  This was attached to the Pool Party card base with Dimensionals.

The sentiment used here is from Fragrant Layer stamp set.  It's stamped with Misty Moonlight ink onto a 5/8" wide strip of Basic White cardstock.  It's trimmed close then fishtailed with Paper Snips.   It's added to the bottom of the design with Dimensionals.

The inside of the card is a layer of Basic White cardstock.  It has a 1/4" strip of the same DSP (but the striped back side) added to either side of the white layer.  They're attached with adhesive.  These strips came from the area on the left side of the front design that was too wide.  Never throw away those scraps.  You never know when they'll be the perfect accent to the card!

I made another card with this same layout.  At least it was the same until I cut the white layer wrong.  After thinking about it, I decided to share my boo-boos too.  This is how learning happens.  If everything came out perfect the first time, I guess it means I'm not stretching myself enough and trying different things.  Besides it's only paper and I can try again!

So the mistake was only cutting it 4 1/4" long so the DSP comes right to the edges instead of the white showing at the edges.  I thought I'd still put it together as I'd planned and see how I liked it.  

For this one, I used Hydrangea Hue cardstock and the beautiful Delicate Dreams DSP which is currently unavailable.  This paper is just beautiful.  I guess lots of people agree on that.  It will be coming back in stock, so watch for it.

This sentiment comes from the Lily of the Valley set.  I don't remember the name of punch I used - sorry.    The ink color is Hydrangea Hue.  The label has just a hint of the blue around it.  I used a marker tip to run around the edges.  The label also has a spattering of the same marker for added color.  

Did you notice the small strip of ribbon that's tucked under the label?  For the bling this time, I added some of the retired Brass Butterflies to flit in the design.  Thought they were a good size and the new ones got lost in all the busyness of the print.  

I still think the first version of this layout is great.  Not so crazy about the mistake version.  I should have just set the wrong-sized cardstock aside and recut to the correct measurements.  But I had to try.  You never know whether an idea will work if you don't try it.  This mistake is ok, but not as eye-catching as the first version as far as I'm concerned.  It's something I don't want to do the wrong way again.

I'm so glad you stopped by today.  Let me know what you think about this layout.  I think I should use it more often.  What do you think?

Happy stamping and creating,

Sharon

Another Card Template for You

Hey everyone.  Hope you're all doing well and having a great day.  Things have been a little crazy the last few days with my heart again.  I'm learning so much about how my heart works or doesn't work sometimes!  I'd much rather be ignorant and have no heart problems though.  It's really cutting into my stamping time!  I did spend time stamping on Monday when I had a little more energy for a change.  Looking through my card layout ideas, I came across another quick and easy idea that I hadn't used in a while.  Looking at the layout, this idea just popped in my head, and I had to give it a try.  It was so much fun, I made two more.  So, I guess it's time to share and get creating here.

This is what I envisioned and it's as pretty as I thought it would be.  My first thought was to use one of the vases in the Artisan Sketched Garden DSP pack.  I first cut a strip from the bottom of this sheet and cut them into separate sections to use.  

Before there was any coloring done, the colors needed to match another print of DSP.  This time I found a pretty Fresh Freesia and Peach Pie print that would work.  The print is from the Lovely and Beautiful DSP.   I'd used the gorgeous gold-touched prints but really hadn't used the back of the prints.  This print was die-cut with the largest square die in the Stylish Shapes die set.  I cut two right away to make two cards at a time.

TIP:  It's best to use a non-directional print for this layout because you're putting it at an angle.

A Basic White cardstock layer was cut to frame the die-cut piece.  The white measured 3" x 3".  The two pieces were attached with adhesive.

A Basic White cardstock piece was cut at 8 1/2" x 5 1/2" for the card base.  A Fresh Freesia cardstock piece was cut at 5 1/4" x 4" for the layer.  This was embossed with the Beautiful Pattern Embossing Folder to give the layer a subtle pattern to go with the delicate floral DSP print.  This was attached to the white card base with adhesive.  Then the diamond layers were attached a little above center using Dimensionals.  

The coloring on the vase of tulips was with Stampin' Blends:

vase - Fresh Freesia Light and Dark

tulips - Peach Pie Light and Dark

greenery - Granny Apple Green Light & Dark

Then the image was fussy cut which only takes a few minutes.  It was attached to the diamond shape with Dimensionals.

The sentiment is from the Banner Sayings set.   This was stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black ink onto a 3/8" wide strip.  The ends were trimmed to finish it.  Then it was attached to the bottom of the card with Dimensionals.

Three Iridescent Pearls were tucked in around the design for a subtle accent.

Next card uses the same white base with the same embossed Fresh Freesia layer.  The diamond-shaped layers in the middle are the same.  

This time I used some images from the Simply Beautiful set.  They were stamped onto Basic White with Memento Tuxedo Black ink.  Then they were colored with Stampin' Blends:

flowers - Fresh Freesia Light and Dark

leaves - Granny Apple Green Light and Dark

flower center - Peach Pie Light and Dark

After coloring, the images were die-cut with their matching dies and added to the diamond layers using Dimensionals. 

I thought the sentiment needed to be a little larger to go with these images.  It's stamped on a 5/8" wide strip of Basic White with Fresh Freesia ink.  When trimmed, the ends are a little longer than normal so the pretty gems could be added at each end.

At this point, I wanted to do a little more coloring on those Artisan Sketched Garden DSP, so I reverted back to that paper but kept the same Fresh Freesia color and DSP print.  

I just love these images from the Artisan Sketched Garden DSP.  They are so loose and 'artsy' looking.  They just beckon me to come play with them!  This is another image from that bottom row of the print.  The coloring is Stampin' Blends again.

flowers - Peach Pie Light and Dark

buds - Fresh Freesia Light

greenery - Granny Apple Green Light and Dark

water - Sea Spray Light and Dark  (this is from several years back and I just love this color, so it gets used often)

The image is fussy cut then layered onto the diamond shape with Dimensionals.

For this card, I changed the embossed layer to the Eyelet 3D Embossing Folder.  I love the bolder look of the embossing with the delicate look of the floral print DSP.  It's a nice contrast.

The same sentiment was used as the first card.  It's attached with Dimensionals.  Then three of the Iridescent Pearls were tucked in around the design.

I hope you like this simple card layout.  The diamond shape could be made smaller to fit your take on this layout.  That's part of the process of using layouts to get you started.  Since you are the designer, you can change the layout to fit your needs!

One thing I want to stress here, I absolutely am having so much fun coloring these images from the Artisan Sketched Garden Designer Series Paper!  I need to try colored pencils and water-color pencils too with this.  I was surprised that I could color and fussy cut an image out in about 10 minutes.  Amazing!  And I totally love the look of them.  You might even say I'm getting addicted to coloring them!  I always did enjoy coloring books, and I guess I haven't grown out of that yet.  I hope you enjoy coloring these too.  Let me know when you've tried using this DSP.  I'd love to hear if you like it too.

Thanks for sharing some time with me today.  Hope to see you back soon.

Happy stamping and creating,

Sharon

Three Panel Card

Happy New Year to you!!  Here we are starting out a brand-new year with some wonderful possibilities ahead.  I plan on making the most of the possibilities that come my way.  I hope you do too.  I figured with the turning of the calendar page, I needed to get serious about posting ideas again.  I was going great, then all the craziness of the holidays descended on me and posting sort of tapered off for a bit.  So, back to my stamping room I went and got busy.     I did a lot of stamping yesterday and again this afternoon, so let's start sharing.

A while back, I had seen a post by Rachel Tessman where she was showing a Three Panel Card.  I had done different versions of this idea over the years (I didn't know it had a name!), but don't remember sharing any of the cards in a long while.  So that's what I'm starting out the new year sharing with you.  Hope you like the idea and give this easy but interesting layout a try.

Let's start with a card base of Soft Succulent that measures 8 1/2" x 5 1/2" that is scored at 4 1/4" and folded in half.  To give the background some extra texture, I cut another Soft Succulent piece that's 5 1/4" x 4".  This is embossed with the Gingham Embossing Folder.  After embossing, I used a Blending Brush and Soft Succulent ink to darken the edges and define the detail a little.  Then it was attached to the card base using Tombow Multi Purpose Liquid Glue and set aside.

Then a piece of Evening Evergreen was cut at 3" x 4 1/4" for the panels of DSP to layer on.  I used the Fitting Florets DSP for my choice here.  The DSP measured 2 1/2" x 4".  This is a great way to use up those small pieces of DSP that you have sitting around.  This piece was then cut in strips that measure 1 1/4", 3/4", and 1/2" wide.  Carefully lay these strips evenly on the Evening Evergreen piece, then attach each with adhesive.  This was attached to the center of the card front using Dimensionals.

The sentiment I chose to use is from the Splendid Day stamp set.  It was stamped on Basic White cardstock using Evening Evergreen ink.  The plainer punch from the Double Oval Punch was used on this.  Then the scalloped oval part was used to punch an Evening Evergreen layer to frame it.

You could easily add your sentiment at this time and be done, but I wanted to dress it up some.  A piece of Vellum was punched using the Label Me Lovely Punch.  This was attached to the card front using a strip of adhesive across the middle where it will be covered by the sentiment.  

One spray of leaves was die-cut from Soft Succulent cardstock using the Framed Florets dies.  This was partially tucked under the sentiment and attached with adhesive.  Then the sentiment was attached to the Vellum with Dimensionals.  Lastly, three Iridescent Rhinestones were attached to the card front for a little bling.

Update - I keep looking at my card and can't decide if I want to add a stamped and colored flower to the card.  Maybe I should get it in the mail right away so I can quit obsessing over it!  😄

And there you have it.  This layout is really a wonderful way to use up some of those bits of DSP that are really too pretty to throw away, but what can you do with them?  Now you've got a great idea!  To expand on this idea a little, you could use three different prints that coordinate.  Or you could use panels that you stamped to make your own DSP print.  If you try this, let me know what you chose to make.  I'd love to hear from you about this layout.

A few business reminders for you - You may still order from the July - December Catalog thru January 4th.  Then out with the old and in with the new!  The new Mini Catalog is open for ordering on January 5th.  And don't forget about Sale-a-bration which starts the same day.  Sale-a-bration only goes to February 28th this year, so pay attention to the dates on the catalog.  I don't want you to put off your purchases and then miss out.  I want to keep you all happy!

Wishing you a healthy and happy new year!

Happy stamping and creating,

Sharon