Designer Series Paper, Simply Elegant Cards & Paper Crafts

Hello and welcome to my blog. This blog post was created for a blog hop with STAMPING WITH FRIENDS BLOG HOP.

I love patterned papers and especially Designer Series Paper™ (DSP) that coordinates with matching cardstock and other accessories. Here’s images of some of my favorites:

This card includes some of my favorite colors and was fun & very easy to make. Even with the pink hues and colors, it can be used for any celebration – birthday, graduation, achievement – and is gender neutral. There are several colors in the patterned paper that blend easily with the card base.

The card layout is what you can call a 3D layered design with a half-embossed, basic A2 card base. It includes stamped and die-cut images/pieces, strips cut from the front & back of patterned paper (DSP), the drink images are die cut from the DSP (which is always a plus) and to finish it off, color-coordinated embellishments added to the layer used to stamp the sentiment. I combined 2 stamps to create the sentiment on the white layer of cardstock, and added other stamped/die cuts and pink gems to embellish the card. I mean who doesn’t love bling! All of the cut pieces have Dimensionals (foam adhesive) added for that 3D effect.

Materials used (all Stampin’ Up! © products) – Celebratory Sips stamp & die bundle, Strawberry Slush cardstock (solid color for base), Glass & Gardens EF, Celebratory Sips DSP, scrap piece of Willow White cardstock for the stamped sentiment, image die cut from the Celebratory Sips DSP, Secret Sea, Cloud Cover (available only in Spot size) and Darling Duckling Classic ink pads, Strawberry Slush & Pretty In Pink gems, Dimensional foam dots, and liquid glue/adhesive tape.

DSP & CARDSTOCK MEASUREMENTS:

Card base is cut to a standard 4-¼ x 5-½ inches cardstock (A2), score at mid-point and fold (burnish with a bone folder for a sharp crease at the fold).
Layered strips are cut from double-sided patterned paper, at 1 x 5-1/8 inches x2.
Cut a piece of white scrap cardstock for sentiment at 1-¼ x 3-½ inches to use with a border die cut. If not using a border die, cut scrap to 1 x 3-¾ inches.
Cut a stamped image to decorate the lower right side of card front or die cut an image from patterned paper to fit in that section of the card.

INSTRUCTIONS TO MAKE THE CARD:

Take the folded card base and burnish with a bone folder or plastic ruler at the fold line
To emboss, insert the front half of card base in the embossing folder and run thru your embossing machine. Make sure it’s position properly so the embossed side is facing front.
Add foam dots or strips to both sides of strips; if using double-sided paper, flip one strip & add the foam dots to that back side too.
Stamp the white scrap with the sentiment(s) and add foam dots or strips to back.
Die cut the image from the DSP or stamp, color & cut an image to decorate the card. I cut my image from the DSP and stamped and die cut the lemon slice to embellish that piece. Optional: add foam dots or adhesive to both die cut pieces for 3D effect.
Align both strips to left side of the front card base and leave a little space between each.
Add the stamped sentiment and die cut decorations as shown on the card.
Place the embellishments on the card to finish the front.
Cut a 3.75 x 5.5 inch cardstock for the inside and leave blank or add a sentiment or message to complete the card.

My initial plan for this card was to use alcohol blends but with the various colors of ink pads and colors in the DSP I used, no coloring was needed. I included the blends in the photo to show there are multiple options to add colors depending on your preference or style. Also used the Textured Notes Dies to die cut the label that is stamped with the sentiments.

Including the Celebratory Sips DSP, the images below are some of my top favorite patterned papers I have in my stash. I will create more cards with these papers soon, and I especially love anything that is of the Halloween theme (my favorite occasion to celebrate) and spookily friendly!