Colorful Happy Birthday

Welcome back to my blog.  June is a busy birthday month for my family so I'm making lots of birthday cards. 

For today's card I decided to use Distress Oxide inks to make a colorful background.

I began by embossing my cardstock with a Magenta stencil in my Big Shot Die cutting machine before I added the ink.  This gives the card a bit more texture and interest.  To emboss with a stencil I began by cutting a piece of Elizabeth Craft Soft Finish white cardstock to 4 ¼” x 5 ½”.  I love this cardstock because it has a softly textured finish on one side and the ink blends on it really well.  To make the sandwich for embossing with the stencils is as follows:  Base plate open to Tab 1, cutting plate, rubber embossing mat, cardstock, stencil, cutting plate.  Depending on your machine, you may need to add a shim to get enough pressure on your cardstock. 

Align the stencil onto the cardstock and tape in place.  I used Distress Oxide inks in a rainbow order for this card but you can use any inks and combination.

I used ink blending brushes but you can also use other application tools to apply the color.  After I finished applying the ink, I removed the stencil and set the piece aside to dry.

Meanwhile, I cut the Memory Box #99684  ‘Happy birthday’ sentiment from a piece of glitter cardstock and used Copic markers to color the letters.  I also cut two more die cuts of the sentiment from white cardstock and adhered all three pieces together for a stacked sentiment that would stand out on the card.

To prepare the stenciled piece for cutting, I determined where I wanted to place the die cut.  I decided to start the word “Happy at 1” from the bottom left side of the card stock and end of the “birthday” sentiment ended about 2” from the bottom.  The sentiment measures about 1 1/8” tall so wanted the opening to be 1 ¼” wide.  I turned the cardstock over and measured 1 “ from the top on the left side of the card, then made another mark at 2 ¼”.  (You need to do the opposite on the back side to get the angle right for the sentiment.)  On the right side of the cardstock, the first mark is at 2” and the second mark was at 3 ¼”.  Draw lines to connect the marks and then cut.  Note:  I worked this out on a piece of scrap paper first to make sure I had my measurements correct, then cut the stenciled piece.

I adhered the pieces to the front of a kraft cardstock A2 card, then adhered the die cuts to the opening. 

This techinique will work with any stencil and I've had fun experimenting with a variety of stencils and ink colors.  I hope you will give it a try.  Thanks for visiting my blog today.

Products Used

Distress Oxide Ink (Picked Raspberry, Spiced Marmalade, Squeezed Lemonade, Twisted Citron, Mermaid Lagoon, Wilted Violet)

Elizabeth Craft Soft Finish White 90lb Cardstock

Memory Box Happy Birthday, #99684

Birch Press Prism Die, Part One

I’ve been using the new Birch Press Prism die a lot and decided to try using it with washi tape.  This card was a lot of fun – it did take a little bit longer than most cards but if you like piecing die cut pieces into a frame I think you will enjoy this card. 

 To create this card, I used the Birch Press Prism Triangle Collage (#57185) and Memory Box Happy Birthday Upright Script (99684.)  I picked several spools of washi tape in different widths and textures. 

To begin I applied strips of washi tape across a piece of white cardstock, cut 5 ½” x 4 ¼”.  I used the die as a guide and applied the washi tape in a pattern slightly larger than the die.  

I used a bone bolder to really press the tape onto the paper then ran it through my die cutter.   This die cut very well and most of the pieces remained in place.

For the card front, I did another die cut on a piece of white linen paper, cut to 4 1/8” x 5 ¼” and removed all the little die cut pieces, leaving just the “frame”.  On the back I adhered a piece of double stick tape, cut slightly smaller than the card front. 

To begin piecing the washi tape die cut pieces into the frame, I used my Elizabeth Craft Fine Point tweezers to place the random pieces that didn’t stay in the frame during the die cutting process.  I also punched out a couple of larger washi tape pieces and placed them on the card front.  This helps align the two pieces together.  Next, I put the washi tape piece on top of the card front and aligned them, so the pieces matched. 

Working from right to left, I used the tip of my craft knife to gently push each of the die cut pieces onto the adhesive on the card front.  Periodically I lifted the washi tape piece to make sure the pieces were lined up correctly.  

I followed this process until all the die cut pieces had been moved to the card front.  When I finished I discovered that I had missed a couple of pieces so used my tweezers to place those pieces on the card front. 

I adhered the card front to a 5 ½” x 4 ¼” piece of Sol Silk Beauty Pink cardstock and then to the front of an A2 card.  To finish, I applied strips of metallic washi tape to another piece of cardstock.  I die cut this with the Memory Box Happy Birthday die and adhered it to the front of the card.  I added a few gems for a bit more sparkle.

Putting this card together was a bit like doing a jigsaw puzzle, and I really liked the results.  Be sure to keep the empty washi tape “frame” because I’ll have another post soon to show you a card I made with that left-over piece.  

Thanks for visiting my blog today!