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Clean and Simple Card Class – Card Sets

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Ok – buckle in. This is going to be a long post with lots of photos…but if you hang in there, I think you’ll like it…it’s definitely one of my faves!

Today’s Clean and Simple Card Class lesson is all about creating card sets – and if you know me – you know I LOVE making card sets. When I was a kid, I collected stationery and the only thing that has changed is that now I make my own stationery!

In today’s lesson, Jen McGuire created the most awesome stationery set! She stamped a beautiful background then left space on the card for the recipient to adhere her choice of sentiment strips, which Jen included in the stationery set! So clever and such a fun way to give stationery!

So….for today’s project, I took inspiration from several places. First, I loved the concept behind Jen’s stationery set, which I combined with inspiration that I recently found in an issue of House Beautiful magazine.

I saw this bedding and immediately wanted to replicate it with stamps and paper.

Here’s a quick peek at the finished project – and then I’ll share photos and details about each step.
The design here is not quite as clean and simple as you might expect, but I do think the fresh colors and minimal layers keeps things simple even with the busy pattern.
Ok – so here’s how these cards came together: 
I started by stamping a pattern using Papertrey Ink’s Rosie Posie and Turning a New Leaf stamp sets. As you can see, the design is pretty, but a little flat. To add dimension without adding layers, I simply used colored pencils to add shading to each element of the stamped design.

See what a huge difference that makes!? By using colored pencils, I think the design really comes to life and looks a lot more polished and sophisticated.

 Next, I ran the stamped cardstock through my Cuttlebug along with the Papertrey Ink Canvas/Linen Impression plate. Since I was inspired by fabric, I wanted to add the suggestion of fabric to the card.

I adhered the impressed cardstock onto a white A2 cardbase. 
Now – you could totally stop right here and have a fabulous all-occasion card featuring this beautiful floral pattern.
Since this is a card set though, I wanted to add the fun element of sentiments that the recipient could choose from when sending a card.
I created a selection of common sentiments using the Papertrey Ink Mat Stack 4 Collection which features a small little banner stamp that has space for a stamped sentiment. I stamped the banners and sentiments in vibrant colors, then cut them out. 
To make sure that the recipient would have no difficulty adhering the sentiments, I added a strip of dimensional adhesive to the back of each one.   

Now of course I had to package these up in a fun way, right?!

I placed the cards in a clear box then wrapped it with fun green chevron ribbon that I purchased from a seller on Etsy. Don’t you LOVE that ribbon?!?!
Then – for the sentiment strips, I thought it would be fun to play off the beautiful floral garden feel of the cards. So I opted to package the strips in a seed packet envelope!
I tied the seed packet onto the ribbon so that everything was packaged up together.

UPDATE: I’ve received a couple of questions regarding the seed packet die – and I’m glad I did because I completely forgot to include the details on this part of the project! To create the windowed seed packet here’s what I did:


1) Die cut the seed packet and frame.
2) Use a rectangle die cut or a craft knife to remove the center portion of the seed packet envelope. Don’t remove the entire front of the envelope. Just enough to account for the size of the opening in the seed packet frame.
3) Adhere acetate to the back of the seed packet frame.
4) Adhere the seed packet frame over the opening in the front of the envelope using dimensional adhesive.

And one of my favorite parts of this card set is that the sentiment can be adhered in any way you’d like. You can orient the card horizontally or vertically and the pattern still works

This card set may go down as one of my favorite projects ever! I just love the colorful flowers and the texture of the linen impression! Top it off with assorted sentiments and you just can’t lose!


Hope this project inspires you to create some card sets of your own!!


Supplies:
Stamps: Papertrey Ink (Rosie Posie, Turning a New Leaf, Mat Stack 4, Mat Stack 1, Garden Variety, Simple Stationery)
Ink: Impress Fresh Ink (Pink Lemonade, Silver Lilac, French Lavender, Mojito, Tuscan Olive, Peach) ; Versafine Ink (Habanero)
Cardstock: Papertrey Ink (white)
Other: Prismacolor Colored Pencils (Parma Violet, Pink, Apple Green, Orange, Light Aqua); Papertrey Ink (Canvas/Linen Impression Plate, Seed Packet Die, Seed Packet Frame Die, A2 Card Set Clear Box)

Keep on crafting with these other posts

60 thoughts on “Clean and Simple Card Class – Card Sets”

  4. Oh Amber these are gorgeous! Rosie is such a lovely set and you have created something wonderful with it. Love the tiny encouragement for the recipient to start papercrafting! ;o)

    Reply

  6. Oh Amber! I LOVE the way you added dimension with colored pencils! I’ve never liked making my own background for that very reason…too flat…but didn’t think to add this technique. I’m off to try it for myself 🙂 Beautiful cards and I know anyone would love to receive this gift.

    Reply

  14. Just your usual fabulous! I don’t know how we ever got by without Rosie Posie…this card set proves my point! I love the added touch of letting the recipient choose here own sentiment and the packaging is perfect.

    Reply

  15. OMG – second card I’ve seen this morning that made me regret not ordering Rosie Posie. This is stunning and you’re right – the extra shading makes all the difference. Love the cheery colour on this drab (in Toronto, anyway) day!

    Reply

  24. Oh, Amber! How you used my favorite Rosie Posie is just amazing! The colored pencil shading added so much! I am definitely going to try that! Very beautiful card set! And I just love how you packaged up the sentiments! Too cute!

    Reply

  29. No way! Amazing!!! How have I missed you blog all this time. You are nothing short of amazing! Love this set and what you did with the sentiments , is genius ! Thank you so kindly for sharing your projects with us.

    Reply

  30. Not only your project are always top notch and beautiful, I love the fact that you take the time to explain what you had in mind and exactly how you did each step of the way. Thank you.

    Reply

  32. I just LOVE getting your posts! You have to be one of the most unique stampers out there! So out of the box and I adore all your hints (shading with pencils for depth) and you AREN’T on PTI Team because………????? 🙂

    Reply

  33. WOW!! Another jaw dropper from you!! I really do not understand why you aren’t on the PTI DT yet. You do such amazing things with such elegance.

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  35. Who wouldn’t love to receive this card set as a gift! The flower colours are just so pretty and the shading with the coloured pencils really does bring them to life!

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  36. Day 10 was one of my favs in this class – actually they all are. LOL
    Your card sets are beautiful and would be treasured by anyone receiving them. Just gorgeous!

    Reply

  37. Theses are just wonderful. I was wondering about how you packaged the sentiments. Did you cut out the window somehow on the seed packet, too? Are the sentiments not in the seed packet envelope? If you could explain this, I would be grateful.

    Reply

  40. Ok, this is absolutely ridiculous!!! Like in that good way where you cannot imagine how someone could come up with something so clever!!! I am blown away! You are one amazing crafty genius. I am officially in awe.

    Reply

  41. This is gorgeous – your fabulous and creative ideas never fail to amaze me! So sad it is so very expensive for us in the UK to purchase Papertrey products 🙁

    Reply

  42. Just found your blog through Melissa Phillip’s blog and so glad I checked it out! I love the colors you used and how you made the flowers ‘pop’ by using colored pencils!

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  43. Absolutely stunning, wish I could see the impression effect, but even with out – these are “drop dead gorgeous”. Love that you put the sentiments in a “seed packet” – pure genius :o)

    Reply

  47. Oh.Em.GEE!! So they’re a little busy to be considered true clean and simple – but they are still one layer cards (until ya stick the sentiment on) and simply stunning! Colouring with the pencil totally finishes the card! I love this set, Amber – thanks for sharing. xxx

    Reply

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