ERA Graphics - Project 1

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Project 1

This time the project is a greeting card. It's a simple arrangement using only one stamp, but with layered papers and multiple embossing powder colors, the result is beautiful.

Designing with Squares

Click to see a larger version. [37K]

Supplies

Texture/design square #189-004F:
Three pieces of cardstock: pale aqua glossy, medium blue glossy, and reddish-copper Confetti.
Three colors of embossing powder: gold metallic, copper metallic, and medium blue.
Embossing ink.

Steps

Stamp with the embossing ink 4 times on the glossy aqua cardstock, forming a "T" pattern. Keep the images very close together, touching along the edges. Notice how the image has been rotated between stampings to form a pleasing overall pattern. You might want to practice on some inexpensive paper with regular ink until you find just the right composition. Save the practice images; you can cut them out and use them as part of a collage.
Sprinkle the three embossing powders over the wet ink to form a swirled pattern. First use the gold and cover about 1/3 of the total area, then the copper, then fill in all the rest with the blue. Tap off the excess powder.
Use your heat gun to set the embossing powders. Let the card cool.
Cut out the embossed T, cutting very close to the image.
Glue the T to the blue cardstock. Now cut out around the image again, leaving about 1/8" border. You could first make light lines on the blue cardstock with a pencil and a ruler to get very straight cutting guidelines.
Cut a sheet of Confetti cardstock in half the short way, to form a piece 8 1/2" by 5 1/2". Fold this in half to form the card. Final size: about 4 1/4" by 5 1/2".
Glue the layered image to the front of the Confetti card, tilting at an angle.
Stand back and admire your work!

Variations

You can play with different colors of paper and embossing powders to get your favorite look for this card. Maybe even use 4 sheets by repeating step 5 with the fourth paper color. Or use a patterned paper for one layer. Try using a different square stamp, for instance any of our other texture/design squares. You could form the embossing powder into stripes or any other pattern you find works with your image.