The world turns green on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17th. I love green everyday, it is my favorite color. Green is often a supporting color in cardmaking, seen as frogs, summer leaves and pine trees. But today it takes over beautifully in ever so elegant green cards.
Green With Envy
Stampin’ Up! offers 53 different colors in their spectrum of coordinating collections. And they do green very well, as 11 of the 53 colors have green tendencies. That speaks loudly of the importance of green in cardmaking.
Light Green:
Soft Seafoam, Pear Pizzazz, Mint Macaron
Medium Green:
Granny Apple Green, Old Olive, Call Me Clover
Dark Green:
Garden Green, Shaded Spruce, Mossy Meadow
Blue-Green:
Coastal Cabana, Bermuda Bay
Beautifully Braided In Green
Soft Seafoam and Mossy Meadow marry in spectacular fashion for elegant green cards. Instead of the typical colorful flower petals, I chose to make the leafy version of this stamp from the set Beautifully Braided. The Scripty 3D embossing folder in one of my personal favorites, and mimics a print from the 6×6 Designer Series Paper color collection, quickly crafted from a circle punch.
Greening Positive Thoughts
Grays and greens have more in common than the letter “G”. They are earthy tones and transition well with other colors. This elegant green card, featuring the Positive Thoughts stamp set and coordinating product release, Nature’s Thoughts Dies, is supported by Gray Granite and Basic Gray. The fabulous DSP comes from the 12×12 Garden Lane, a green lovers must have!
Garden Lane DSP, item #149488
Spring Green Timeless Tulips
Flower cards are often very elegant, but green usually takes the back seat to lively colorful arrays. White tulips look natural with the abundance of green in this stunning card. Notice that the circle punched from this DSP was used in my card above! And the ribbon used here is from the retired green, Wild Wasabi.
As you can see, it is easy to make elegant green cards. Stop by my online store, https://www.juliemakson.stampinup.net, and add some green papers and inks to your order. Then make the world a greener place in your own crafty way!
Tulips symbolize perfect love. Stampin’ Up! has the perfect stamp set and coordinating punch to make beautiful tulips that you will love! I have been busy creating Timeless Tulips colorful combinations, and I will admit, it is hard to stop experimenting.
The Timeless Tulips Stamp Set and Tulip Builder Punch are available individually or as a bundle in the January-June 2020 Mini Catalog. When purchased together, the everyday savings of 10% applies. Even beginner crafters will find it easy to conjure up Timeless Tulips colorful combinations masterpieces.
Orange Timeless Tulips Card
Creating paper tulips (and this card) is simple. Just follow the basic guidelines and the fantastic tips I am sharing. You, too, will soon be on your way to making gorgeous blooms like the ones pictured!
Tulips: Stamp, Punch, Sponge
Tulip Builder Punch, item #151295
Start by making a punch template for your stamps. Use any scrap of cardstock on hand, and punch.
BonusTip: Use a marker to write “Punch Template” on your cardstock, then tuck it into your stamp set for future use. A bold label will help you avoid tossing the template as ‘accidental garbage’.
Next, line up the coordinating stamps in your punch template. Place the stamps with the image (raised edges) down and the back (flat side) facing up.
Super Important: Match the cardstock punch template to the image of the bottom of the punch. As seen above, the template and the punch bottom show the petal to the left of the large tulip. If you flip your paper over in error, the stamped images will no longer align with the punch.
After your stamps are lined up properly, place a clear block over them to position the stamps on it for proper punch alignment. Here, I used Clear Block D.
To make the orange tulips, I started by stamping the large tulip and petal in Pumpkin Pie Ink onto So Saffron Cardstock.
Helpful Advice: Depending on the amount of ink in your ink pad, you may need to stamp off first to create the desired image tone. Trial and error makes alluring deviations.
The correct positioning of the stamps from the punch template makes it easy to stamp and punch once, without having to line up both images and punch individually. Time saver!
For depth and additional color, I used Poppy Parade Ink and a section of a Stamping Sponge for application. Apply the ink, by sponging, to all outer edges of both the tulip and the petal.
I find sponging helpful in blending the stamped image into the punched outline rim. If your punched image is a little off-center, the sponging hides imperfections. Finally, be sure to sweep the inked sponge from the bottom of the tulip to the center.
Warning: Prepare for inky fingers and have a wipe handy!
Additional Card Assembly Tips
Embossing
Basket Weave 3D Embossing Folder, item # 151797
I chose the Basket Weave 3D Embossing Folder as a backdrop for my orange tulips. This folder provides extreme texture to the paper, which also makes the paper hard to attach without rippling or buckling.
After some experimenting, I found it helpful to run my bone folder along all outer edges of the embossed cardstock from the back. By pressing out, or flattening, a thin surrounding strip (@ 1/4 -1/2″), I was better able to get this piece glued down securely. No need to worry, it doesn’t ruin the embossed look!
Die Cutting
Delicate Lace Dies, item #147053
The look of lace, like the name of this particular stamp set, is timeless. Therefore I chose the Delicate Lace Dies to add to the beauty of this card. When attaching something that has a tiny working surface, I prefer Tombow Glue.
As you can see in the picture, I applied a thin line on the bottom edge of my “lace”, and some small dots of glue where paper allowed in the middle. I lined up the lace to the designer series paper, tucking some lace behind. The glue gives you a moment of wiggle room to slide your paper to perfection.
You will need to trim your lace after adhering it to the designer series paper. The above picture shows an example of one that is trimmed, and one that needs to be.
Designer Secret: The lace trim doesn’t need to be aligned perfectly symmetrical in this instance. The Very Vanilla lace rests on top of a piece of Very Vanilla embossed cardstock, and since the two are the exact same color, imperfections hide well. The contrast of shape and texture work in this regard also.
Lace Ribbon
My “hello” greeting assembly is purposely lined up with the brown edge of the designer series paper. In order to have the ribbon in alignment with the tulip stems, I positioned the assembly on the card and used a pencil to mark the desired location.
After wrapping the ribbon securely to the back, I adhered this piece to the card front, and added a nicely tied bow. The bow helps hide the pencil mark, so no need to erase it.
Show some love to the inside of your cards too! I used the smaller tulip stamps from this set to add a peak of flowers in the bottom corner. There is plenty of room for a sentiment and your warm regards.
Start Your Tulip Garden Today
This spring is a great time to get these products and start your own paper tulip garden. Be sure to stop by my online store, https://juliemakson.stampinup.net, and add the Timeless Tulips Bundle, item #153793, to your order.
And to inspire you further, I have compiled a chart with a baker’s dozen of my favorite Timeless Tulips Colorful Combinations. Print or pin it to assist in your creation of colorful tulip making. Just like real tulips, paper tulips have no scent, but are guaranteed to bring a smile to someone’s face.
