After getting a shredded envelope returned to me in the mail (Yes, the card face was padded with a piece of buffer cardstock. Yes, it had sufficient postage for hand canceling.), I’ve been working on flatter cards for safe mailing because I am resolved to send more cards this year!
This happy hello was fun and would be easy for mass production. I had noticed a similar design in the Splitcoast gallery (but I forgot to mark it to my favorites!) The stamp set is Garden Flowers by Lia from Hero Arts. I love all of her fun designs. Most of them are smaller silhouette images that work great for quick cards, but they still have a lot of class factor!
I cut a quick mask with a stacking heart die from MFT. When I make masks, I always use a thin copy paper so that my stamped images go right to the mask line. Thicker cardstock produces a halo. If I’m making a full card front and using a negative space for my mask, I try to cut from a full 1/4 sheet of copy paper with the mask positioned exactly where I want it. This makes it easy to line up on my actual card front and keep square. I always secure the mask with temp adhesive, washi tape or 3M painter’s tape for sensitive surfaces before I start stamping.
One of my favorite ways to dress up a stamped image without weight or bulk is using the atyou Spica Glitter Pen for shimmer and shine. The pens are inexpensive, smooth to the touch after application and best of all, I don’t have to mess with glue, glitter or clean up. #winning! Here, I’ve applied used the gold and clear pens over all of my stamped images. It works great over waterbased ink or Copic. In 24 colors, you can shimmer and shine all over the place.
Tip: Rather than “writing’ the glitter onto my card, I hold the pen softly and gently brush it onto my card. This eliminates indentions in the paper and obvious application marks.
The glitter is hard to photograph, but you will know it’s there, and so will your recipient!
I hope you have an amazing day full of your favorite things. I’m going to continue my week of paper crafting, painting, coloring and watercolor bliss! Shine on, friends!
One response to “happy hello.”