Spellbinders November 24 Club Kits
November 23, 2024
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This blog post will walk you through the creative process of making a mixed textures floral birthday card. Featuring Spellbinders’ latest club kits—3D embossing folders, and clear stamps and dies—this guide will help you create a card that truly stands out.
Why Mixed Textures Matter in Card Making
Adding different textures to your cards can elevate your design from ordinary to extraordinary. Textures add depth, dimension, and tactile interest, making your cards more engaging and appealing. When used thoughtfully, textures can become a powerful tool in your card-making arsenal.
The Magic of 3D Embossing Folders
Depth and Dimension
One of the standout features of 3D embossing folders is the incredible depth they can bring to your card designs. Unlike traditional embossing folders, 3D folders create multiple layers of embossing, adding a rich, sculptural quality to your designs. And, Floral Expressions, this month’s 3D Embossing folder of the Month from Spellbinders is a stunning example.
Versatile Uses
3D embossing folders are versatile and can be used in various ways. Whether you want to create a subtle background or a bold focal point, these folders can adapt to your needs. They work well with different types of paper, including cardstock, vellum, and even metal sheets.
Easy to Use
Even if you are a beginner, 3D embossing folders are user-friendly. Just run them through your die-cutting machine, and you’ll get professional-looking results every time. Pairing them with the right inks and embellishments can further enhance their impact.
Spellbinders Clear Stamp and Die of the Month
Precision and Detail
Spellbinders’ clear stamps and dies are known for their precision and intricate details. And, Colorful Expressions, this month’s set is no exception. These tools allow you to add beautifully stamped and die-cut elements to your cards, giving them a polished, professional look.
Coordinating Sets
One of the advantages of Spellbinders’ club kits is that the stamps and dies are designed to coordinate perfectly. This means you can easily layer and combine elements to create cohesive, harmonious designs.
Endless Creativity
With clear stamps and dies, the creative possibilities are endless. You can mix and match different sets, experiment with various ink colors, and try out different techniques like heat embossing and watercoloring.
Combining Textures for a Stunning Effect
Layering Techniques
Layering different textures can create a visually stunning effect. Start by embossing your card base with a 3D embossing folder to add a rich, textured background. Then, add die-cut and stamped elements on top to create a focal point that pops.
Choosing the Right Materials
Choosing the right materials is crucial when working with mixed textures. High-quality cardstock, specialty papers, and various embellishments like sequins, ribbons, and gems can add extra flair to your design.
Balancing Elements
Balancing different elements is key to a successful design. Too many textures can make your card look cluttered, while too few can make it look flat. Aim for a harmonious balance that enhances your focal point without overwhelming it.
Step-by-Step Guide to Making a Mixed Textures Floral Birthday Card
Gather Your Mixed Textures Supplies
Step 1: Make a 5×7 Card Base
Start with a piece of white cardstock cut to 10×7 inches. Score it at the 5-inch mark and fold it in half using a bone folder to create a crisp edge. This will be your 5×7 card base. Read How To Make A Card Base if you need help.
Step 2: Create a Floral Background with a 3D Embossing Folder
Trim a piece of pink sand cardstock to 5 1/2″ x 8 1/2″ and place it into a floral 3D embossing folder, like Floral Expressions, the August 2024 3D Embossing Folder of the Month. Run it through your die-cutting machine. The embossed floral pattern will add a beautiful texture to your card.
I love to draw out the beautiful detail and texture that 3D embossing folders create by adding a little color to them. For this card, you can use tiny blending brushes to add just a little color to the flowers and a paintbrush and water with ink for the smaller details. Fasten the embossed color panel to the card front with a sheet of white liner.
Step 3: Heat Emboss the Focal Design and Sentiments with Gold Embossing Powder
Using an watermark ink pad, stamp your chosen focal design and sentiment onto a piece of dahlia cardstock, in this case we’re using Colorful Expressions Blossoms, the Clear Stamp Set of the Month for August. Sprinkle gold embossing powder over the inked areas, tap off the excess powder, and heat set it with a heat gun. The gold embossing will give your card an elegant touch.
Refer to Mastering the Basics of Heat Embossing for tips on how to get expert results with your heat embossing.
Use the coordinating die to die-cut the heat embossed focal point. Di-cut a couple more from white heavyweight cardstock and layer them behind the heat embossed die-cut to give it some dimension.
Step 4: Die-Cut a Green Arch to Go Behind the Focal Point
Using your die-cutting machine and a arch die, with green cardstock, cut out a green arch shape. This will serve as a background layer for your focal point, adding dimension and contrast.
Step 5: Use a Woven Embossing Folder and Vellum to Make the Focal Point Pop
Take a piece of vellum paper and place it in a woven embossing folder. Run it through your die-cutting machine to create a woven texture on the vellum. This step will give the focal point a subtle yet sophisticated backdrop.
Step 6: Assemble the Mixed Textures Card
Now it’s time to put everything together:
- Adhere the green arch to the center of your embossed floral card base using double-sided tape.
- Place the heat-embossed focal design on top of the green arch and secure it with foam tape for added dimension.
- Layer the woven vellum behind the focal design to make it stand out. Use small dots of glue or adhesive to attach the vellum subtly.
- Finally, adhere the heat-embossed sentiment to the bottom of the card using foam tape.
How to Make a Coordinating Envelope
A beautifully crafted card deserves an equally delightful envelope. Creating a coordinating envelope extends the theme and offers an additional layer of personalization.
- Choose a Matching Envelope: Select an envelope in a color that matches or complements your card. For this card, I chose a plain white envelope.
- Decorate with Stamps: Use the same floral stamps from your card to decorate the envelope. This ties the two pieces together and hints at the beauty inside. To make it even more elegant, you can heat emboss the design with gold embossing powder. HINT: If you want the design to show up over the fold you will need a very large stamp positioning tool like the Sizzix Stamp & Stencil. This is because the envelope is so large.
Seal It with a Wax Seal
A wax seal adds a touch of elegance and tradition to your card presentation. It’s a simple way to elevate your project and make it even more memorable.
- Select Your Wax Color: Choose a wax color that complements your card’s color scheme. We’re using all the colors but the darkest one in the new pink Must-Have Wax Bead Mix
- Melt and Apply the Wax: Use a wax melting spoon to melt the wax over the envelope flap. Carefully pour it onto the desired spot. Or, you can just create the seal on the silicone mat that comes with the Spellbinders Wax Seal Starter kit and then attach it with an adhesive circle.
- Imprint with a Seal Stamp: Press your seal stamp into the wax before it hardens. Hold it in place for a few seconds, then gently lift it away to reveal a beautiful impression. Read How To Create A Wax Seal for more tips on how to achieve great results when making wax seals.
Supplies for the Envelope & Seal
Get Crafting!
Creating a mixed-textures floral birthday card is a fun and rewarding project. By combining Spellbinders’ 3D embossing folders and clear stamps and dies, you can create a card that is both beautiful and unique. Remember to experiment with different materials, colors, and techniques to find your own style.
Ready to take your card-making to the next level? Join Spellbinders’ club today and start exploring the endless creative possibilities. Happy crafting!
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ABOUT AUTHOR
Teri Duncan
Teri has over 30 years of experience as a cardmaker. Her work has appeared in Spellbinders Paper Arts’ blog as well as with some of their products and on Altenew’s blog. Outside of work, she enjoys gardening, stained glass, and teaching. She and her husband live in Crystal River, Florida with their three dogs and a cat.
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