Happy Friday! Today, I thought I'd share some of my favorite techniques, all while sharing the steps to create a greeting card. Maybe the techniques are something new to you, or maybe they're something you've seen before. Either way, here's a little challenge...try to incorporate one of these ideas into your "Scrap-time" this week!
Supplies to create this card:
4.25"x5.5" folded card
Tim Holtz Tissue Tape
October Afternoon 5 & Dime word stickers
ZVA Bling: Flourish
a button
We R MemoryKeepers Sew Easy floss (Tertiary)
Ranger Perfect Pearls Mists (but any glimmer mist would work)
Ranger Distress Ink (I used Black Soot)
Tattered Angels glimmer screen (but any mask/plastic template would work)
Paper Towel
Fiskars Squeeze punch
Glue Dots Pop dots
Technique #1: Upcycle the "bar code" strip from 12x12 patterned papers.
Not only do many of the 12"x12" strips on double-sided paper often have a little sampling of the pattern on the back that you can use right on your project, but you can also use the strip as a guide! I used a strip from a piece of Cosmo Cricket paper to create a fun pleated border for my card.
I LOVE the Tim Holtz tissue tape! The rolls go a LONG way. And, did you realize that it's adhesive...very much like duct tape, but lighter, cuter and it is removable and doesn't lose it's "stick" if you need to move it around. I started on the left-hand side of a 4.25" piece of the bar code strip, and simply stuck down the Tissue Tape about 1/2", then folded back, then repeated in order to create my border. Once I was done, I folded the ends of the tape around to the back side. I inked it with my Distress Ink to give the edges some definition and adhered it to the card.
Technique #2: Make Tissue Tape flowers.
I can't take credit for these marvelous (and oh so easy) flowers. Tim Holtz has a great video tutorial on his website. But, the cliff notes version is this: Start with a scrap cardstock circle. Adhere about 1/2" of Tissue Tape on outer edge, then pleat as you go, sticking it down and going around the outer edge of the circle, then work in towards the middle.
For my flower I did about three rounds from outside to inside, then just tore it off when at the center. For added dimension, fluff up the edges throughout, and ink it up! You can use any kind of brad, button, sticker, etc, for the center.
Technique #3: Experiment...Go crazy and punch shapes from paper towels.
While cleaning up after using some glimmer mist recently, I thought about how pretty my paper towel was with all that ink... Note that I can't vouch for the acid-free or archival quality of a paper towel; however, in card-making, that generally doesn't matter so much! So, as an experiment, I used the Fiskars Squeeze Punches to punch scalloped circles from a Kirkland Brand (Costco) Paper Towel. My punches did great with that brand, thickness...I haven't experimented yet with any other brands. I love the fabric feel of these punched circles!! Then, I sprayed them with Perfect Pearls Mist in Forever red, which gave it a pinkish iridescent shine. I used my heat gun to dry the circles. Just be careful not to scorch them...!
Then, I used one as a center to my Tissue tape flower with a button sewn on, and another as a backing for my "Live Laugh Love" Sticker. Love experiments "gone right"!
Technique #4: Repeat patterns in your project.
Repeating patterns is a design principle that almost always looks great. You don't want to over-do it, of course, but I love how it ties things together.
It's hard to get a good photo of the Perfect Pearls Mists on my card, but I placed a flourish mask on the top of my cardstock base, then sprayed Perfect Pearls Mist (Forever red color) over it. I used my heat gun to dry quickly. Then, I adhered the ZVA Bling flourish to add a finishing touch.
Technique #5: Layer multiple textures.
Layering is another design principle that I use a lot in my paper-crafting. In this card, I used many textures...the tissue tape, the "fabric like" paper towel flowers, the bling, the stickers, the button, which give it a richer feel than just paper alone.
This really lends it a hand-made touch. But, you don't have to use five different things. Even just using Pop Dots to raise a paper piece off a page can create more depth in your project.
So, what idea are you going to use or try? I'd love to hear!
Supplies to create this card:4.25"x5.5" folded card
Tim Holtz Tissue Tape
October Afternoon 5 & Dime word stickers
ZVA Bling: Flourish
a button
We R MemoryKeepers Sew Easy floss (Tertiary)
Ranger Perfect Pearls Mists (but any glimmer mist would work)
Ranger Distress Ink (I used Black Soot)
Tattered Angels glimmer screen (but any mask/plastic template would work)
Paper Towel
Fiskars Squeeze punch
Glue Dots Pop dots
Technique #1: Upcycle the "bar code" strip from 12x12 patterned papers.
Not only do many of the 12"x12" strips on double-sided paper often have a little sampling of the pattern on the back that you can use right on your project, but you can also use the strip as a guide! I used a strip from a piece of Cosmo Cricket paper to create a fun pleated border for my card.
I LOVE the Tim Holtz tissue tape! The rolls go a LONG way. And, did you realize that it's adhesive...very much like duct tape, but lighter, cuter and it is removable and doesn't lose it's "stick" if you need to move it around. I started on the left-hand side of a 4.25" piece of the bar code strip, and simply stuck down the Tissue Tape about 1/2", then folded back, then repeated in order to create my border. Once I was done, I folded the ends of the tape around to the back side. I inked it with my Distress Ink to give the edges some definition and adhered it to the card.
Technique #2: Make Tissue Tape flowers.
I can't take credit for these marvelous (and oh so easy) flowers. Tim Holtz has a great video tutorial on his website. But, the cliff notes version is this: Start with a scrap cardstock circle. Adhere about 1/2" of Tissue Tape on outer edge, then pleat as you go, sticking it down and going around the outer edge of the circle, then work in towards the middle.
For my flower I did about three rounds from outside to inside, then just tore it off when at the center. For added dimension, fluff up the edges throughout, and ink it up! You can use any kind of brad, button, sticker, etc, for the center.
Technique #3: Experiment...Go crazy and punch shapes from paper towels.
While cleaning up after using some glimmer mist recently, I thought about how pretty my paper towel was with all that ink... Note that I can't vouch for the acid-free or archival quality of a paper towel; however, in card-making, that generally doesn't matter so much! So, as an experiment, I used the Fiskars Squeeze Punches to punch scalloped circles from a Kirkland Brand (Costco) Paper Towel. My punches did great with that brand, thickness...I haven't experimented yet with any other brands. I love the fabric feel of these punched circles!! Then, I sprayed them with Perfect Pearls Mist in Forever red, which gave it a pinkish iridescent shine. I used my heat gun to dry the circles. Just be careful not to scorch them...!
Then, I used one as a center to my Tissue tape flower with a button sewn on, and another as a backing for my "Live Laugh Love" Sticker. Love experiments "gone right"!
Technique #4: Repeat patterns in your project.
Repeating patterns is a design principle that almost always looks great. You don't want to over-do it, of course, but I love how it ties things together.
It's hard to get a good photo of the Perfect Pearls Mists on my card, but I placed a flourish mask on the top of my cardstock base, then sprayed Perfect Pearls Mist (Forever red color) over it. I used my heat gun to dry quickly. Then, I adhered the ZVA Bling flourish to add a finishing touch.
Technique #5: Layer multiple textures.
Layering is another design principle that I use a lot in my paper-crafting. In this card, I used many textures...the tissue tape, the "fabric like" paper towel flowers, the bling, the stickers, the button, which give it a richer feel than just paper alone.
This really lends it a hand-made touch. But, you don't have to use five different things. Even just using Pop Dots to raise a paper piece off a page can create more depth in your project.
So, what idea are you going to use or try? I'd love to hear!
