Today we have a gorgeous design that helps you figure out how to use busy paper on handmade cards – check it out!

Sometimes coming up with a design for how to use busy paper on handmade cards can be tricky. The paper and the pattern is gorgeous but you don’t want it to overtake the whole card. But you just can’t pass it up. Sound familiar?

Today Carol is sharing her steps to use a more colorful, detailed pattern in a way that really features it while also allowing some of our gorgeous layered stamped flowers to really shine. Let’s get all the details in her own words!

The Card base:

• Run the Diamond Pierced Cover Die and A2 sized 80# Neenah through your die cutting machine.
• Trim the piece into two strips: one at 5-½” x 1″ and the other piece at 5-½” x 1-¾”.
• Trim two narrow strips of gold paper from the Autumn Leaves paper pad and glue to the edges of the white die cut strips.
• Add foam tape to the back of the strips, but don’t adhere just yet.
• Trim a piece of patterned paper from the Autumn Leaves paper pad into a strip measuring 5-½” x 2″.  Use the two white strips to plan where to glue this onto an A2 card base.
• Remove the backing from the foam tape and adhere the white strips to the card.

The flowers, leaves and sentiment:

• The Warm Sunset stamp set is a layering stamp set that includes several solid surface stamps.
• To get the very best results for stamping, use a white eraser to “condition” the stamps.  As the next photo shows, the conditioned stamps will have a dull, not shiny, look to them.

• Ink up the two outline stamps with black ink and stamp onto 80# Neenah cardstock.
• Using a MISTI, or other stamp positioning tool, ink up the base layer with Citrus ink (Color Fuse #2).  There is an included layering guide to assist in lining up the solid stamp with the stamped outline.
• Condition the stamps for second layer of the flowers.  Then stamp with Apricot ink (Color Fuse #2).
• Condition, then stamp the leaves with Clover and Basil ink (Color Fuse #10).  Use a sponge dauber to smooth out the edges of each color.
• Then use the coordinating dies to cut out the flowers and scissors to cut out the leaves.
• Stamp the sentiment from the Kittie Says Friends set with Versafine Onyx Black ink.  Trim into a strip.

Finish the card:

• Add some foam tape to the parts of the flowers that will be over the patterned paper that is recessed on the card front.
• Use liquid glue for the sentiment and leaves.  Tip:  Only add glue to the base of the leaf stems to add a bit of extra dimension.
• Add a few coordinating gem stickers around the flowers and leaves.

 

Here’s what you will want to pull out of your stash or snap up to make this stunning card:

This trick for how to use busy paper on handmade cards is one that we are sure you will want to come back to! Picture this same design using any of the beautiful, classic patterns in our Ho Ho Ho Paper Pad! Or with ANY of the gorgeous designs in all the other Rubbernecker Paper Pads in our collection. Also, dig into your patterned paper stash and see which patterns in there you previously deemed not card-worthy – we are betting this design can change your mind!