This year I’ve welcomed a number of participants to my monthly cardmaking workshops who are brand new to stamping. As a consequence I’ve been changing my approach to these sessions by offering designs that will suit beginner skill levels, but that can also be stepped up for my more experienced participants. I thought it would be fun to share with you a card idea that goes from simple to special by adding a host of subtle elements. Take a closer look and perhaps give some of these ideas a try for your next project!

My designs today feature the Affectionately Yours Specialty Designer Series Papers (item 141632), which will be available for purchase tomorrow in the brand, new annual catalog! Both versions start with a folded Whisper White card base (item 100730).

For the beginner’s version I’ve layered some of the patterned paper on the base. The butterfly silhouette was cut from a square of Whisper White Cardstock using the Elegant Butterfly Punch (item 127526) and layered over the floral pattern with Stampin’ Dimensionals (item 104430).  I’ve stamped the Sunburst Sayings (item 140725) sentiment in Night of Navy ink (item 126970) on a Crumb Cake Cardstock (item 120953) banner and adhered this beneath the butterfly to finish.

To step up the finished design I’ve added a few It’s My Party Enamel Dots (item 140554) for a fun pop of color to complement the yellow tones in the floral pattern. I also embossed the white panel around the butterfly using the Floral Affection Textured Embossing Folder (item 141713), which lends subtle interest to the project. For the sentiment in this version, I’ve heat embossed using White Stampin’ Emboss Powder (item 109132) on Night of Navy Cardstock (item 100867) versus the more basic stamping approach in the first version.

To finish I’ve bumped up the textural component with a little White Baker’s Twine bow (item 124262).

I hope you’ve enjoyed these ideas and that they inspire you to ‘step up’ your next project!

Jennifer Frost
Artisan Design Team 2015–2016