Don’t you just want to jump on one of the swings in this cute handmade playground card?

I am not sure how many time you might NEED to create a handmade playground card, but I can think of lots of reasons to SEND one! This is a great card for a child, for a summer invitation to a party or a special backyard event, or even to send to someone you know who would love to spend an imaginary moment swinging on a swing or zipping down a slide. When I worked with Rob designing this set of dies, I was remembering those summer days and thought it would be fun to make cards that brought those feelings back.  The Play Set is one of the new die sets from Rubbernecker’s Summer Release.

Card Base, Grass and Fence

• Use white cardstock to cut the A2 sized card base.
• Create the light blue sky background a blender brush and blue ink.
• Cut two picket fence sections using white cardstock and attach them together using glossy accents.
• Apply ATG adhesive to the back bottom of the fence and a few tiny pop dots to every three or four back pickets and attach it to the card base.  Pro Tip:  The pop dots on the back of the pickets holds them away from the card base. It creates dimension while allowing the bottom of the fence to be flat to eliminate as much bulk as possible when attaching the grass and frame layers. 
• Use green cardstock to cut two sections of grass, attach one to the bottom of the fence using ATG adhesive and set the second one aside.  

Frame 

• Cut the frame using yellow cardstock and the two largest rectangle dies.  Pro Tip:  I use my magnetic platform to line up the two dies to cut the frame.  If you don’t have a magnetic platform for your die cutting machine you can easily secure them in place by attaching a couple pieces of masking tape. 
• Apply strips of mounting tape to the back of the frame and attach it to the card base.

Tree

• Use a strip of mounting tape to attach the front grass section to the frame. 
• Cut the trees using Kraft cardstock.  Note:  you can use white or cream cardstock for the trees but I just happen to like the look of Kraft after color has been added.  It’s just my preference.

• Apply brown ink to the trunk and branches of the tree using a wet baby wipe and dry with a heat gun.  Pro Tip:  The wet baby wipe makes it so much easier to apply ink to the tree trunk and thin wispy branches. I heat dried the trees to make it easier to attach the leaves.  Adhesives doesn’t stick well on damp cardstock.
• Cut the leaves using green cardstock, place them face up on the molding pad and form them gently with a leaf tool or small tipped stylus. 
• Attach the leaves to the tree branches using glossy accents. 
• Apply a strip of mounting tape to the back of the tree trunk, a few tiny pop dots to the back of leaves and attach it to the frame.  Pro Tip:  The bottom branch was to long and hung way over the fence so I trimmed it off and attached it higher in the tree. There are lots of time that you can find a way to modify a die to work where you want it. 

The Playground Set 

• Cut the swing set and slide set using blue, yellow and red cardstock.
• Assemble the swing sections together and use glossy accents to attach them together.  
• Assemble the slide sections and attach them together using mounting tape and glossy accents.
• Apply thin strips of mounting tape to the frame of the swing, tuck it in behind the front grass and attach to the fence.  
• Apply thin strips of mounting tape to the back of the slide frame and slide, tuck them in behind the grass and attach to the card base and front grass section.  Pro Tip:  The tall slide on the right of the card helps to balance out the tree on the left.  It’s always important to place images that seem natural and are appealing to the eye.  
• Finish the card with a few tiny flower stems at the base of the tree and the base of the slide.

Grab the new items from the store as soon as you decide you want them because, if history repeats itself, these will sell out. And I KNOW you want to get started on your summer fun cards!  If you would like more outdoor scene inspiration check out my Scene Card Category.   

5407D Play set [ RBB ] 5403D Half Tree Die [ RBB ] Nested Rectangle Die Cut Set 5003D [ RBB ] Picket Fence Die Cut 5152-01D [ RBB ] Tabed Grass Set Die Cut 5152-03D [ RBB ] Tiny Flower Buds Die Cut 5147-10D [ RBB ] 5334-02D Tiny Leaves #2 Die [ RBB ] Flower Stems Die 5147-05D [ RBB ] Small Birds Die 5147-06D [ RBB ] Color Fuse Set #3 [ RBB ] Color Fuse Set #9 [ RBB ] Paper Blossom Tool Kit 4/Pkg [ RBB ] Paper Blossoms Molding Mat [ RBB ] Scor-Tape .25″X27yd [ RBB ] Glossy Accents .5oz [ RBB ] Scotch Advanced Tape Glider & Tape [ RBB ] Crossover II Fabric & Paper Cutting… [ RBB ]

So – what would you use this handmade playground card for? A birthday card to remind people they are still young at heart? To invite someone to hang out in the back yard for an afternoon of reminiscing? As a party invite for some smallies to get together at the park? Let me know – I’d love to hear!