Since Valentine's Day is right around the corner, I thought I'd better get busy making some cards for the holiday of love! Here's a sweet one, using some of my favorite new products!
Sorry for the kind of strange lighting in the photo above, but by turning down some of my studio lights and using only one from the side, I was able to better capture the gorgeous white embossed card base! When Ellen first introduced her new Essentials by Ellen Letterpress 110 lb White Cardstock, I couldn't wait to try it! Just look how crisp this pretty Lifestyle Crafts Floral Embossing Folder turned out:
If you click on the photo above for a larger view, you should be able to see the pretty original cotton texture on the right side of the cardstock and then what happens when it is embossed on the left side of the photo -- The cotton fibers in the paper are compressed and the texture becomes a little smoother. I hope this comes over in the photo, because it is SOOOO gorgeous in real life!
This was the first time I had used some of Memory Box's fabulously delicate cut-out dies and boy, was I impressed! They cut so cleanly and just look at those beautiful delicate scrolls (and see -- the embossed background isn't as noticeable in my full studio lighting, unfortunately)!
I used the La Rue Heart die, cut from a Memory Box Currant Notecard; and Pepita Border die, cut from Memory Box Meadow Cardstock. To attach these intriquet die cuts, I used Mini Glue Dots where I could, and then Zig's 2-Way Squeeze & Roll Glue Pen on the tiny cut outs:
Then I wanted an additional "light and airy" embellishment to complete my card, so I started playing around with some of Ellen's Assorted Doilies and came up with this doily flower. Here's how to make it:
1 - Fold a 4-inch doily almost (just a little less) in half, right side over to the left:
2 - Next, fold the doily in half again, up from the bottom:
3 - Then (I forgot to photograph this) -- using Tim Holtz's Tiny Attacher, staple down inside the folds, over on the lower right side (by grasping the inside folds of the doily with your left hand):
3 - Then fold up the pointed underside of the doily. This will give the flower a "base" to sit on and make it a little shorter and flatter:
4 - Finally, turn down the outer "petals" and fluff the inner petals into a shape you like:
I used Craft Glue Dots to attach the doily flower to the card and placed a large pearl brad (from my stash) in the center. You could use a button or large gemstone, too.
I hope this gives you some last minute Valentine ideas, too! ~ Sharon
Paper: Essentials by Ellen Letterpress 110 lb White Cardstock and Assorted Doilies; Memory Box Currant & Meadow Notecards & Envelopes (or coordinating Memory Box Cardstock colors)
Memory Box Dies: La Rue Heart & Pepita Border dies
Accessories: Lifestyle Crafts Floral Embossing Folders; Advantus Tim Holtz's Tiny Attacher; Craft Glue Dots & Mini Glue Dots; Zig 2-Way Squeeze & Roll Glue Pen;
