Category: Fundamentals

Design Process with Desert Details

Posted on by dayinker

How do you decide what to create with new products, like the Desert Details bundle once you’ve unboxed your order? How do you commit to cutting the paper? I’m an advocate of the Stampin’ Up! kits and Paper Pumpkin because they clear that hurdle for you by providing some preplanned projects. But I also enjoy seeing where the products take me, finding out what I can create from scratch. I’m going to walk you through my method in a gallery style. I started with an intention to create a masculine birthday card. I’m almost completely out and I have some birthdays coming up.

Delicate Desert DSP

First, I opened the Delicate Desert paper pack and flipped every other page so I could see all the patterns along with the Desert Details stamp set. I loved the colors. Gray Granite called to me, as well as the rustic Cajun Craze pattern. From the stamp set, I decided to use the “Let the fun begin” as one of my sentiments. But I would need a Happy Birthday sentiment from another stamp set. I could worry about that later.

Delicate Desert DSP and the Desert Details stamp set.

Desert Details Dies

Next, I considered what die cuts I might want to use from the Desert Details dies. I decided pretty quickly that I didn’t want flowers for this project. I liked the details on the two panel dies and the aloe plant shape would be a nice contrast to all those hard edges. I couldn’t ignore the cool geometric banner piece which I decided would be perfect for a sentiment in a small font. I wanted to use the long edge die too. Perhaps on the inside.

Desert Details dies

Narrowing the choices

Once I had an idea of the elements, I started to make some selections and draft a layout. Returning to the DSP, I decided which patterns I would use for each layer. I pulled a sheet of each color of cardstock I thought I might use: Cajun Craze, Gray Granite, and Soft Succulent. I really liked the die that would add cut-outs with a diamond pattern, but it didn’t work for this card as I already had a lot going on.

Desert Details with Cajun Craze, Gray Granite, and Soft Succulent card stock.

Die-cutting the Desert Details

Next, it was time to cut the paper. I cut a 4″ strip from the Cajun Craze pattern paper and a 3″ strip from the Gray Granite pattern for my banner pieces. I cut the cardstock in half and then the Gray Granite and Soft Succulent halves in quarters. This saves paper by leaving me usable pieces for card bases or layering. I cut small strips off one of the quarters of the Gray Granite and the Soft Succulent paper so I didn’t run the entire quarter sheet through my cutting/embossing machine. That can leave marks from the plates on the scrap making it unusable.

Die cutting my Desert Details shapes.

Stamping Time

Now that I had all the paper I needed to create my card, it was time to stamp. You may notice I have a quarter sheet of white card stock cut 4″x 5-1/4″. That piece is going inside my card. I also have a strip of white paper that I planned to use for my tiny sentiment. More on that soon.

Stamping with the Desert Details stamp set.

Heat Embossing to the Rescue

I found a sentiment that would work with a little fussy cutting in the Beautifully Happy set currently available through Sale-a-bration. Heat embossing with a metallic powder, like Copper, let me add some bling to my masculine card without making it too fussy. I was also able to cut just the “happy birthday” from the sentiment that read “for a very happy birthday.” I love masking stamps or cutting the part I need in order to really customize my cards. You’ll also notice in the upper right of this picture, that when I did my stamping, I added a little detail to the envelope. A decorated envelope announces to the recipient there’s something special inside.

Heat embossing the Beautifully Happy birthday sentiment in copper.

The Inside Desert Details

Here is how the inside of the card looks. In retrospect, I probably would make two changes to this. I would stamp the sentiment in Cajun Craze and the detail stripe in Soft Succulent. Second, I would have flipped my die cut so that the “teeth” hung over the edge of the base and the Cajun Craze card could peep between them. Next time, I’ll try that and let you know.

The inside of the Desert Details masculine birthday card.

The Final Desert Details Masculine Birthday Card

Here is the final card. Instead of the Gold Faceted sequins that come with the Delicate Desert Suite, I used the Brushed Metallic dots from the annual catalog. The Gray Granite banner is popped up on Dimensionals and so is the leafy plant. That was a labor of love because I had to cut the mini-dimensionals into thirds to make it work. Talk about fussy!

The final Desert Details masculine birthday card.

Overall, I’m very happy with how this card came out. I told you about the minor changes I would make to the inside, but I think the front of the card is exactly what I wanted—interesting without being too fussy.

Let me know if you liked this post and would like more behind the scenes with the designer posts. If you’d like to purchase any of these products, there is a shop with me code on the right. Until next time: Ink up!

Lots of Pun with Paper Pumpkin

Posted on by dayinker
Cards made with the Lots of Pun December 2021 Paper Pumpkin subscription box.

The Lots of Pun, December 2021, Paper Pumpkin is filled with funny yolks, you know, the “moldy oldies.” But seriously, it’s a super cute kit with sentiments for celebrating, condolences, and general good wishes. At least one of my cards will be perfect for my Valentine.

These are the cards made as designed. The kit comes with extra pieces, so it’s easy to get more than the nine cards it was designed to make. For my alternatives, I took one of each of the card bases and cut it in half. Then I trimmed each half to 4″x5-1/4″. That means I have six more punny ideas for you!

Lots of Pun with Cherries

Alternative design for the Lots of Pun December 2021 Paper Pumpkin

For the first split card, I used the Granny Apple Green back and embossed it with the Tasteful Texture 3-D embossing folder from the current Annual catalog. After mounting the pane on a base of Pool Party cardstock, I put the cherries in the frame exactly like the card was designed. Instead of using vellum and the red banner detail, I used the rainbow striped banner. The heart embellishments in the kit were the perfect final touch.

Alternative design for a condolence card using the Lots of Pun December 2021 Paper Pumpkin

The second alternative I created from the same card base is a condolence card. Unfortunately, sometimes we need to send this kind of card. Again, the front panel is layered on Pool Party cardstock. For the sentiment cluster (vellum, rainbow banner, red ruffle, and stamped banner), I trimmed the scrap piece of rainbow-striped paper from the pre-punched frame. The narrow strip adds a nice pop of color. The clean and simple (CAS) design lets the sentiment stand out.

Orange You Glad I Said Banana Again?

Alternative design for a thank you card using the Lots of Pun December 2021 Paper Pumpkin

Okay, that’s not how that ancient knock knock joke goes, but of course it came to mind when playing with these punny bananas in the Lots of Pun kit. For this alternative duet, I used the yellow checked card base with the Pool Party back. Both cards are on White cardstock as the base.

The first card is another CAS. I used the smaller vellum circle to anchor my cluster of bananas. The “top” banana is raised on Dimensionals. I giggle every time I see the banana with glasses. The sentiment in the word bubble banner is also elevated. For a final touch, I added three of the Daffodil Delight gems from the kit.

Alternative design for a congratulations card using the Lots of Pun December 2021 Paper Pumpkin

The second card, starts with the Pool Party back that I stamped with the hat and dots stamps from the kit using Pool Party ink. When stamping a background like this, it’s good to make the images “fall off” the edge. That technique keeps the background from fighting for attention with your focal point. In this case, I super cute piece of toast in a Granny Apple Green party hat. The blue plaid medallion is the “left over” piece from the frame used in the cherries card.

Egg-stra Alternatives

Alternative design for a greeting card using the Lots of Pun December 2021 Paper Pumpkin

The last two alternatives use the Daffodil Delight card base that has the watercolor sploosh on the front. Starting with the Daffodil Delight panel, I embossed it using the same Tasteful Textures folder. Next, I layered on the big vellum circle from the kit. I staggered the two eggs, generally only line up items if you have three or more and usually odd numbers. Again, those eyeballs will do funny things to two eggs lined up on your card. And not the good funny.

Alternative design for a greeting card using the Lots of Pun December 2021 Paper Pumpkin

I used two sentiments, one in the bubble banner popped up on Dimensionals. The other has the Early Espresso ruffle under to give it some visual weight. I love the little smiling eggs. Talk about “sunny side up!”

The last alternative calls to my serious side, a pun-free alternative. I used the Crumb Cake banner from the kit, layered over a second scrap of rainbow banner and then the Early Espresso striped banner. I used Dimensionals cut in half for the hello sentiment from the kit. If you have the mini Dimensionals, they work so much better, but they still should be cut in half. Last, I added that twine bow because everyone I know loves tying bows. (I said pun free, not joke free.)

I hope you liked the cards I have for you here. If you haven’t signed up for Paper Pumpkin, there’s a link to the right. Here’s a preview of the January 2022 box. Sign up by January 10 so you don’t miss out. And until next time, “Ink up!”

Nature’s Harvest for Every Crafter

Posted on by dayinker

Nature’s Harvest is such a great stamp set. It’s part of the Harvest Meadow suite in the 2021 July-December mini catalog. It has four sentiments and three images, but I’m going to show you three different projects that are similar, but so very different. No matter what type of crafter you are—beginner, casual, or avid—this stamp set is for you.

Beginning Crafter Card with Nature’s Harvest and Limited Supplies

A beginning crafter card using the Nature's Harvest stamp set from Stampin' Up!

I made this card with the Nature’s Harvest stamps, Misty Moonlight and white cardstock, Misty Moonlight ink, a paper cutter, adhesive and some Elegant Faceted gems. That’s it. Oh, and an envelope. But the envelope and the gems are optional.

I started with a base of Misty Moonlight, a half sheet scored in half. Then I added a 4″x 5-1/4″ layer of white that I stamped with two images from the stamp set. To lighten the image of the texture stamp, I stamped on scrap paper after every re-inking using the second generation image. This technique basically creates a second ink color for projects. I stamped the small flower image at full strength.

Next, I cut a piece of Misty Moonlight 2-1/2″ x 4-3/4″ and stamped the large flower image using Misty Moonlight ink. I also added a couple of the texture images at the bottom so the stems weren’t floating in space. Finally, for the sentiment, I used a piece of white card cut to 1-1/4″ x 3″ and the Misty Moonlight ink. I used Dimensionals under the large flower and the sentiment. And for the final touch, I added three gems.

Stamping the envelope is a nice touch if the card is going in the mail.

A Casual Twist on the Natures’s Harvest Card

A distressed style card using Nature's Harvest from Stampin' Up!

For this next card, I used similar products. Instead of White cardstock, I used Very Vanilla. And I added the Diamond Weave ribbon and Brushed Metallic Dots from the Harvest Meadow Suite. And I added a second color of ink, Crumb Cake. There are a couple of other changes I’ll walk you through.

The card base, first layer, and layer with the large flower are all the same measurements as above. I used the Crumb Cake ink for the texture image and also to distress the initial layer. To distress the paper, I used my scissors to rough up the edges of the paper and even tore bits off and then sponged the Crumb Cake ink on the outside edges of the paper. I did the same with the Misty Moonlight panel after I added the large flower.

For the focal flower, I stamped the image using Versamark, and heat embossed it in gold. To add a touch of color, I filled in the leaves and petals with the Garden Green and Daffodil Delight watercolor pencils. It’s subtle, but adds a nice touch. That layer is lifted on Dimensionals.

Next, I stamped the sentiment in Misty Moonlight on Very Vanilla and fussy-cut it out. It’s layered on top of a 4″ length of the ribbon. For the final touch, I added three metallic dots.

An Avid Option

A multilayered card featuring Nature's Harvest stamp set from the Harvest Meadow suite in the Stampin' Up! minicatalog.

This last card takes advantage of three more products in the Harvest Meadow Suite: The Harvest dies, Cork Specialty paper, and the Harvest Meadow designer paper.

I really enjoyed adding all the layers and details to this card. Instead of the stamped layer on top of the Misty Moonlight card base, I used a 4″x5-1/4″ piece of the designer paper. Next, I used the dies to cut out some of the silhouette images in the die set. I used Misty Moonlight paper so I could get that lovely tone on tone elegance. Using the dies, I also cut out my large flower that I stamped in Memento Tuxedo Black ink. I used that ink so I could color in the image with Stampin’ Blends alcohol markers in Just Jade, Daffodil Delight, and Cinnamon Cider.

Next, I used my Dark Misty Moonlight marker to color three basic pearls. If you have tried this with your Stampin’ Blends, it’s a great way to get perfectly matched rhinestones or pearls for your projects. The large flower is floating above the die cuts on Dimensionals.

Lastly, I put together the multilayer sentiment. I started by cutting the cork paper with the long banner die in the Harvest dies set. Then I used a technique I learned at On Stage. I inked up the Thank you sentiment in Versamark, and then directly inked the stamp in Misty Moonlight before stamping it on the white cardstock. This allowed me to use clear embossing powder on the sentiment, giving it a bit of shine and dimension. This is a really fun way to create any color embossed image and the Versamark ink is totally safe to mix into the colored ink pads. I die cut that using the smaller banner die. Two metallic dots make the cork layer look like it’s been punched down with brads, but it’s really on Dimensionals.

Which card is your favorite?

Let me know if you’d like to order the Nature’s Harvest stamp set or any of the products mentioned, or shop with me using the code on the right.