Blooming Friendship Cards

For these cards I've used the beautiful papers from Couture Creations Blooming Friendship collection.

The backgrounds for both cards are made from one of the 12"x12" sheets, and I've also used sentiments from the sentiment panel 12"x12" sheet and the ephemera pack.

This card is made from the bottom half of the 12x12 sheet. The bottom left corner is used for the main background and the reverse side of the bottom right corner is used as the backing layer - to create the red border. My card base is 14.8cm square (cut down to a square from an A5 card blank) so I've cut the red layer to 14.4cm square and the piece for the main background to 14cm square.

I've added some foiling to the background paper using the crackle die - I show you how to do this in my video.

Before sticking the layers down, gut the middle from the red piece using either a square die or a paper trimmer (the type with blades that slide in a groove). The cut out piece is used to make the label the die cut is mounted on, and to make flowers for the other card.

I've used the Coffee Break die cut, and mounted it on a label cut from the red side of the paper. For the label I've used one of the Modern Essentials Cut, Foil and Emboss die sets - Nesting Inset Ovals, but you could use a plain oval die.

The sentiment is from the ephemera pack. I've added some ink around the edges to make it stand out from the background - I've used Card Deco Pearlescent Pigment Ink in Brown.

The second card is made using the top half of the 12"x12" sheet, with a sentiment cut from the sentiment sheet. I've trimmed it out and then used another of the Modern Essential Cut, Foil and Emboss die sets (Bracket Frames) to die cut and foil it.

Cut the floral piece for the left hand side first - approximately 5cm wide. Leave trimming this piece to length until after it is stuck in place.

Turn the paper over to the red side and cut a piece to 14.3cm square (so there will be a small border of your card blank showing)

Line the floral strip up at the left hand edge of the red paper. I've added a lacy die cut tucked under the edge of the floral strip, but you could use some actual lace.

Stick these in place lined up with the left hand edge, and then turn the assembled piece over and trim off the excess of the lace and floral panel at the back using scissors.

Once the background has been stuck down on the card base, add the sentiment panel and flowers.

The red flowers are die cut from the red side of any odd pieces of the paper and then I've added some Christmas Red Card Deco Pearlescent Pigment Ink which gives them a lovely sheen. For the blue flowers I've used some pale blue paper and shaded with Navy Blue Card Deco Pearlescent Pigment Ink. I show you how to shade the flower petals in my video.

I've added some veining to the petals using a white gel pen.

In my video I show you how to foil using the crackle die, use the inks to shade the edges of sentiments and flowers, and how to put the cards together.