Tutorial - using layout sketches for cards

One thing I love to do is make sketches, they really make a project go super quick and easy when you have a design ready to use. Whenever you have one sketch though you really have multiples, a layout sketch can quickly become a card sketch and vice versa. Supplies:

• Layout Sketch
• Pen & Paper or computer software

Recently I created this layout sketch, and thought the design would work well for a card. When you look at sketches try to see shapes, see projects beyond what they are intended for. Though this sketch is originally for a 12x12 layout the square shape can easily be a 5x5” card!

However most of my cards tend to be the standard invitation size of 5.5” x 4.25” I simply took each element layer by layer and recreated it on a smaller scale. You can see here that each basic layer is represented.

Once I had the basic layout of the card sketch above, I thought that something was missing. Although it works perfectly well on a layout the elements on a card seemed to need grounding. I added a small strip along the back and the design fell together.

Using the reformatted card sketch I now had a design to use to make a card.

Supplies:

• Cardstock
• Patterned Paper
• Scallop template
• Ribbon
• Photo Corner
• Button
• Brads
• Stamps
• Ink
• Scissors
• Adhesives

1. Cut cardstock to 8.5” x 5.5” score and fold for a card base.
2. Cut white cardstock to 1” x 5.5” and adhere to card, adhere ribbon to white cardstock
3. Trace scallop with template and trim with scissors, embellish with 3 brads in top right and adhere to card base.
4. Cut blue cardstock to 3” x 2.5”, add photo corner to bottom left, stamp greeting and adhere to card base.
5. Stamp flower onto white, cardstock, trim to 1.5” x 2”, mount onto blue cardstock and trim leaving a ¼” border. Stamp flower again onto green and blue cardstock, trim leaves from green cardstock and flower from blue cardstock and layer onto stamped panel.
6. Embellish with button
7. Stamp greeting onto panel in coordinating ink.

Supply List: Cardstock: DCWV; Papers & Ribbon: Target; Stamps: Hero Arts, EK Success; Ink: Clearsnap; Photo corner: 3L; Brads: JoAnns; other: Button

Tips:
• Use coordinating papers from the same product line to add unity to a card
• Make a matching envelope.

More tutorials soon!

Di