An idea for die cut cards that they will want to frame!

By now everyone knows that die cut cards are my jam – I love making them, I love sending them.  Recently I sent a card to a friend and she told me that she frames the cards I send her. I was a little surprised but realized that when a card is as detailed as I like to make some of them, they could be considered “art. And that led me to this card where all the little details and added dimension take it up a notch.  To make this card I used the new Watering Cans, Branches and Leaves  and Kittie Says Spring Time paired with the Tall Terracotta Pots, Nested Rectangle Scallop with Holes, Rectangle OPC #3, and Flower Buds.

The Card Base and Sentiment

• Use white cardstock to cut an A2 sized card base and scalloped frame.
• Use yellow cardstock to cut the eyelet layer and attach it to the card base using ATG adhesive.
• Stamp the sentiment on the yellow layer using Nocturne ink.
• Apply strips of mounting tape to the back of the white frame and attach it to the card base.

Color the Terracotta Pots and Watering Can

• Use bright yellow cardstock to cut the terracotta pots and gray cardstock to cut the watering can.
• Apply Autumn, Pumpkin and Pecan Color Fuse ink to the pots using mini applicators.
• I’m sharing this short video to show I apply and shade the inks on the cardstock.

• I used the same technique to  apply the color on the watering can but I only used the Pumpkin ink..

The Flowers and Foliage

• Use green cardstock to cut the two smaller sections of foliage in the Branches and Leaves set.
• Cut the flower buds using pink and purple cardstock.
• Place the flowers face up on a molding pad and form them by pushing down in the center with a small tipped stylus.
• Place the foliage sections face up on the molding pad and form their leaves using a leaf tool.  Pro Tip:  If you don’t have a curved leaf tool then don’t worry.  You can use the side of the of your paper piercer or a small tipped stylus.  Gently forming the leaves adds dimension and interest to the arrangement.
• Attach foliage to the back of the pot using glossy accents.  I started by attaching the first row with one straight up, one left and one right.  
• Continue adding foliage sections using the same center, left and right pattern until you have the size arrangement that you want.
• Use glossy accents to attach the small flowers to the foliage. 
• Attach the tiny die cut circles in the flower centers using glossy accents.  Note:  I save the tiny circles from the eyelet dies to use as flower centers, falling snow.  For this project I cut a small section of yellow cardstock using an eyelet die for the purple flower centers.
• I attached the flower pots and watering can using pieces of mounting tape.

Die cut cards are so fun to make and they warm the hearts of the family and friends you send them to.  I hope my project today has inspired you to get out your dies and ink and create a a mini piece of art of your own.

5218D Rectangle Combo OPC #3 Die Cut [ RBB ] Nested Rectangle Scallop w/ Holes 5141D [ RBB ] 5401-01D Watering Cans Dies [ RBB ] Tall Terracotta Pot Die Cut 5147-16D [ RBB ] 5404D Branches and Leaves Die [ RBB ] Flower Buds Die Cut 5147-09D [ RBB ] 3411 Kittie Says Spring time [ RBB ] PanPastel Sofft Applicators 12/Pkg [ RBB ] Color Fuse Set #2 [ RBB ] Color Fuse Set #3 [ RBB ] Versafine Clair Nocturne Pad [ RBB ] Paper Blossom Tool Kit 4/Pkg [ RBB ] Paper Blossoms Molding Mat [ RBB ] Glossy Accents .5oz [ RBB ] Scotch Advanced Tape Glider & Tape [ RBB ] Scor-Tape .125″X27yd [ RBB ] Crossover II Fabric & Paper Cutting… [ RBB ]

It’s fun to make die cut cards.