Grab my easy tips for adding details to a handmade summer card.

In their latest release, Rubbernecker added this detailed die set, Adirondack Chair Front and Back, and I just love how it makes a whole scene almost all by itself. I decided this was a great example to show you how adding details to a handmade summer card with just a few easy tips can really bring it to life. Once I created the look I was going for, I accessorized with Rubbernecker’s  Beach Umbrellas, Slimline Clouds, Beach Bag, Deckle Hills, and Grass #2. 

Let me show you the easy tricks I used to add the dimension to this summer card.

Scene Background and Card Base

• Cut a 5.50″ x 4.25″ card base and a 5.00″ x 3.75″ layer using white cardstock. 
• Use teal cardstock to cut a 5.50″ x 4.25″ layer.
• Apply ATG adhesive to the the teal layer and attach it to the white card base. 
• Mask off the top sky area about 2/3 down of the white layer.
• Use a large blender brush to apply Beachside ink to the bottom portion of the layer to create the ocean. Pro Tip: Creating a “horizon” on your cards using just ink adds a lot of perspective and its so easy!

• Remove the masking tape and apply the Beachside ink to he sky area using a blender brush and cloud stencil. Pro Tip: Layering clouds above that horizon you created adds a lot of visual depth, causing the eye to look INTO the scene, bringing it to life.

• Use a small pointed palette knife or your finger to apply touches of white embossing paste to the ocean to create seafoam.  Pro Tip:  Whether you use your finger  or palette knife to dab on the embossing paste, you just need to dab gently so you don’t smash down and flatten the paste. 

• Sprinkle the embossing paste with clear glitter and allow to dry well. Pro Tip: This is another way to add visual texture to a scene, adding even more for the eye to look past to take in the whole scene. These tricks will add instant life to a card and if you could see this in real life, you would be amazed!
• Apply strips of mounting tape to the back of the scene layer and attach it to the card base.

The Sand and Frame

• Cut two  4.25″ strips of Kraft cardstock and cut the layers  using the Deckle Hill die.
• Apply light brown ink to the sand layers using Mocha ink and a blender brush.
• Apply Shimmer Glitter Glue to the sand layers and sprinkle with clear glitter and allow to dry well. 
• Attach one sand layer directly to the scene base using double stick tape.
• Apply strips of mounting tape to the second sand layer and attach it to the back sand layer.

Chair and Clouds

• Use white cardstock to cut the Slimline Clouds and Adirondack Chair Front and Back sets.
• Trim off a 5.00″ section of clouds and attach it to the top of the scene using a strip of mounting tape.
• Assemble the chair sections and attach using glossy accents.  Note:  I made this chair to be facing out to the ocean. 
• Apply small pieces of mounting tape to the back of the chair, tuck it in between the sand layers and attach to the scene base.
• Cut the Beach Umbrella and Beach Bag sets using bright yellow and teal cardstock.
• Assemble the pieces and attach them together using glossy accents.
• Apply pieces of mounting tape to the back of the umbrella and attach to the sky area above the chair.
• Attach the bag, hat and flip flops to the sand using glossy accents.

Here are the things from Rubbernecker that I used today.

5613-01D Adirondack Chair Front/Back Die [ RBB ] 5212-02D Beach Umbrellas Die Cut [ RBB ] 5328-01D Slimline Clouds Die [ RBB ] 5314-03D Beach Bag Die [ RBB ] 5173-02D Deckle Hills Die Cut [ RBB ] 5210-02D Grass #2 Die Cut [ RBB ] 4011 Clouds Stencil [ RBB ]

For the items that I use all the time and have in my stash all the time, go here and see what you might need:

My Favorite Crafting Tools

Can you see how adding details to a handmade summer card as I’ve shown you really up the impact of an otherwise basic card design? Using these perspective tricks and multicolored, layered die cuts makes this card look like something you could just plop yourself into, doesn’t it? Give these a try – they are easy and will make you look like a real card making genius!