I feel like I can’t even take any credit for these cards… this Simon Says Stamp background stamp is so gorgeous all on it’s own! I mean, look at it! These cards practically made themselves. Add a few colors of Distress Ink for color, a simple sentiment and there ya go, three beautiful cards. Here’s the video showing all the steps…

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STEP BY STEP

Stamp & Heat Emboss the Image onto Watercolor Paper

SUPPLIES

• Simon Says Stamp Poppies Background Stamp
• Canson Cold Press, 140# Watercolor Paper
• Stamping Platform (This is a link to The Misti. The one I use is no longer available, but they all do the same thing.)
• Blue Painters Tape (use any low tack tape)
• Baby Powder & a Fluffy Paint Brush
• Versafine Onyx Black Pigment Ink (Find this at Michaels, Joanns, Hobby Lobby, Amazon, etc.)
• Simon Says Stamp Clear Embossing Powder
• Tweezers
• Wagner Heat Tool

TIP: I buy a big pad of watercolor paper and cut the sheets down to a usable size. These pieces are bigger than the finished card of 4.25″ x 5.5″. That way, I can be messy and trim afterward.

STEPS

1. Use a stamp platform if you have one. Otherwise, lay your background stamp upside down on your work surface and make your impression that way.
2. Use the baby powder on the watercolor paper to prevent the embossing powder from sticking everywhere but on the pigment ink.
3. Ink up your stamp with the Onyx Black ink.
4. Make a good, solid impression on your paper.
5. Coat the ink with clear embossing powder.
6. Heat until melted and shiny. Set aside to cool.
7. Repeat for each panel. I created three for this project video.

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Use Distress Inks to Watercolor Panels

SUPPLIES

• Non-stick work surface
• Blue Painters Tape (use any low tack tape)
• Distress Ink in the following colors:
  • Card #1 – Candied Apple, Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade
  • Card #2 – Tumbled Glass, Shaded Lilac, Blueprint Sketch
• Silver Black Velvet Brush, Size 12

TIP: You can use a heat tool to GENTLY dry your watercolor piece. If you overheat sometimes the paper can warp. If this happens, run the panel through your die cutting machine, between a folded piece of card stock, to flatten.

STEPS

1. Tape the watercolor paper to your work surface. This will help to keep your piece flat when it’s wet and prevent it from warping while it’s drying.
2. Wet your paper with a spray bottle or the paint brush. Just make the surface DAMP, not soaked. Enough water for the paint to move around.
3. Smoosh your Distress Inks onto your non-stick work surface.
4. Wet your brush.
5. Wet your brush with a little bit of water and then dip into the ink.
6. Tap the ink colors pretty randomly on the paper. Don’t be fussy, be loose and quick.
7. When the whole background is colored, let it dry naturally or speed up the process with a heat tool. (See tip above.)

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Die Cut the Panels, Framing Elements, & Sentiments

SUPPLIES

• Spellbinders Platinum 6 Manual Die Cutting Machine
• Waffleflower A2 Layers Die
• Heavyweight Black Cardstock (frame, sentiments)
• Recollections Glitter Cardstock (frame, sentiments)
• Silver Glitter Cardstock
• Neenah Solar White 110# Cardstock (card bases, sentiment, sub-sentiment)
• Tim Holtz Retractable Pick Tool
• Simon Says Stamp + CZ Design Die Set – HAPPY BIRTHDAY
• Simon Says Stamp + CZ Design Die Set – THANK YOU
• Spellbinders Die Set – BOLD TYPE HELLO

TIP: You can always cut these panels down using your paper trimmer. The layers end up leaving about an ⅛ of an inch border all the way around. There’s no need to buy a special set of layering dies… however, if you’re like me and not very “mathie”, the layering dies will make your life so much better.

STEPS

1. Either use the layering dies or manually trim down the Black and Black Glitter card stock so there is about ⅛ of an inch of space all the way around. Set aside for assembly a little later.
2. Trim down the watercolored panels in the same manner.
3. Trim the white stamped and embossed panel to the final card size of 4.25″ x 5.5″
4. Use the sentiment die sets to cut your sentiments from the White, Black, Black Glitter, and Silver Glitter card stock.

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Assemble the Cards

SUPPLIES

• Gina K. Designs Connect Glue
• Distress Collage Medium – Matte Glue
• 3D Foam Squares Adhesive – Black
• 3D Foam Squares Adhesive – White
• 3M Foam Tape
• Scotch Advanced Tape Glider
• Simon Says Stamp Sentiment Strips – Birthdays
• CZ Design Sentiment Strips – Reverse Happy
• Simon Says Stamp Sentiment Labels Die Set
• Tim Holtz Scissors – Small
• Tim Holtz Scissors – Large
• Spellbinders Tool ‘N One
• Mini Score Board
• Teflon Bone Folder
• Studio Katia Iridescent Bubbles – Tiny
• Jewel Picker by Marvy

Use a Matte Finish liquid glue, like Distress Collage Medium, on black and dark colored card stock. Most liquid glue dries clear but also has a shiny appearance. The matte glue dries, well… matte. So, if you get some where you don’t intend, none will be the wiser.

STEPS

1. Use liquid glue to adhere the sentiments to their respective shadow elements. I used the Matte finish glue with the plain black card stock.
2. Use the tape runner to adhere the watercolored Poppy panels to the the plain black cardstock.
3. Use liquid glue to adhere the watercolor panel to the glitter background. It’s a stronger bond than the tape runner.
4. Cut your base card stock in half so you have two panels 5.5″ x 8.5″.
5. Score these pieces at the 4.25″ mark for a A2 sized, side folding card.
6. Use the tape runner to adhere the panels to the card bases.
7. Use 3D foam squares to adhere the sentiments to the card fronts.
8. Use liquid glue or foam tape (for dimension) to the sub sentiments and place on cards.
9. Place an odd number of your embellishment of choice on the card front.
10. Use the jewel picker to pick up the elements and glue down with a tiny dot of glue.

Place something heavy on top of your sentiment stacks when liquid glue is drying. This will help them adhere to each other quickly and they will dry flat. I use a stack of clear stamp mount blocks.

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That’s it you guys!

Mail these cards ASAP so others can benefit from the beauty and joy! Remember, if mailing in the US. be sure and buy “non-machinable” postage so your cards don’t get smooshed in the USPS postal machines.

If you try this technique, be sure and share your artwork with us on the @ladymichellecreates Facebook page. Also, if you haven’t already, be sure and visit my YouTube channel, subscribe, and click the notification bell. I upload a video every week.

Thanks for spending time with me!

Blessings & Hugs,
Michelle