Spellbinders | Propagation Garden

The Tropical Leaves Sympathy card is perfect for showing just how much you care.  Learn how to make it right here.  The card is quick and easy and produces an elegant card in no time.

Make The Card Base

To begin with, we're going to create an A2 size (4 1/4″ x 5 1/2″) side-folding card base.  For tips on how to make a card base, click HERE.

Next, while we have the trimmer out, go ahead and cut an A2 color panel from Onyx cardstock.  As soon as that is complete, we're going to attach the color panel to the card base.

HINT:  If you have trouble getting yours straight like I do, read the hack on how to do it HERE.

And then, go ahead and press the Tropical Leaves Press Plates & Die Set on Dune Cardstock.  If you're new to using the BetterPress system.  You can find instructions on how to use it HERE.

Die-cutting For The Tropical Leaves Sympathy Card

I like to use rectangle dies to make sure that they are cut square.  Therefore that is what I'm doing with my card, but you can easily trim them with a paper trimmer.  What we'll need is a black rectangle that is 2″ x 3 1/2″.  And a dune rectangle that is 2 1/8″ x 3 5/8″.

Now, we'll also die-cut the pressed image of our tropical leaf with the die that coordinates with the plate that we used.

Sentiment and Assembly

Spellbinders Snowflake Wishes stamp set as “heartfelt sympathy” in the perfect size and font that we need for our card.  To emphasize the sentiment, we'll heat emboss it with gold embossing powder right at the bottom of the small black rectangle.  Tips on how to get high-quality heat embossing results, click HERE.

Once the sentiment is finished, we can layer the two small rectangles together and fasten them centered on the card front, all done with a tape runner.

And the finishing touch is to attach the pretty tropical leaf on top using liquid glue.

1. Create a Card Base For The Tropical Leaves Birthday Card

To begin the card, we're going to create an A2 size (4 1/4″ x 5 1/2″) side-folding card base.  For tips on how to make a card base, click HERE.

2. Dry-Emboss To Make A Tropical Background

Next, you need to trim a piece of white cardstock to A2 size.  And then, place it inside of your embossing folder and run it through your die-cutting and embossing machine.  I used the Lahaina Embossing folder from Spellbinders which is no longer available.  However, you can use any embossing folder that has a tropical vibe. Now, trim down the embossed panel to 4″ x 5 1/4″.

3.  Letterpress with BetterPress

The next step is to, go ahead and press the Tropical Leaves Press Plates & Die Set on Dune Cardstock.  If you're new to using the BetterPress system.  You can find instructions on how to use it HERE.  Once you have them pressed, then die-cut the images using the coordinating dies.

4.  Create A Beautiful Sentiment

After that, you need to heat emboss the sentiment on white cardstock with black embossing powder.

The “Happy Birthday” stamp in the  Propagation Garden Sentiments Stamp & Die Set is the perfect size for our sentiment.  And, the font that they used for it is lovely.  Tips on how to get high-quality heat embossing results, click HERE.  The set also comes with a coordinating die for the sentiment, and we'll use it to die-cut the sentiment out.

5.  Assemble The Tropical Leaves Birthday CArd

Finally, to finish the card we'll give the embossed panel some dimension by popping it up with foam squares.  Then, we'll arrange the pressed images in the lower third of the card.  And, we'll pop them up too. Finally, we'll also pop up the sentiment, making sure that it's just a little bit taller than everything else to help to draw your eye to it.

And, that's all there is to this lovely card that you can make in minutes.

1. Create a Card Base For The Old Friend Greeting Card

To begin the card, we're going to create an A2 size (4 1/4″ x 5 1/2″) side-folding card base.  For tips on how to make a card base, click HERE.

2. Use Patterned Paper For A Pretty Background

The patterned paper that we're using, from the Rainbow Wood Collection, comes with a selection of several different coordinating patterns.  So first you need to select the pattern that you want to use for your card.  And then, you need to  trim it down to 4″ x 5 1/4″.

3.  Letterpress with BetterPress  – Propagation Garden

The next step is to, go ahead and press the Tropical Leaves Press Plates & Die Set on Dune Cardstock.  To demonstrate, if you're new to using the BetterPress system.  You can find instructions on how to use it HERE.  Once you have them pressed, then die-cut the images using the coordinating dies.

4.  Create A Beautiful Sentiment

To create the sentiment, you need to heat emboss the sentiment on white cardstock with black embossing powder.

The “It Takes A Long Time To Grow An Old Friend” stamp in the  Propagation Garden Sentiments Stamp & Die Set is perfect for our card.  Tips on how to get high-quality heat embossing results, click HERE.  The set also comes with a coordinating die for the sentiment, and we'll use it to die-cut the sentiment out.  Additionally, we'll use the die to cut one more from a scrap of white cardstock.  As a result, we will use it to add a tiny bit of dimension to the sentiment.  We do this by layering it behind the heat embossed sentiment with liquid glue.

5.  Assemble The Old Friend Greeting Card

To finish the card, attach the patterned paper centered on the card panel using a tape runner.  Then, fasten the three leaf images across the front of the card, slightly lower than the center.  And to fasten them, we'll use liquid glue.  The same is true for adding the sentiment centered below the leaves.

And, that's all there is to this lovely card that you can make in minutes.

Old Friend Greeting Card Supply List