Making Cards again

My copy of April 2017’s Making Cards Magazine arrived today, complete with fun llama, cactus and Mexican girl papers, pretty watercolour style florals and lovely spring stamp set.

I really enjoy fussy cutting, I find it very relaxing. The fun Mexican-inspired papers are ideal for this. I sat happily watching a Disney film as I cut out the decoupage of the Mexican girl, three cacti and one of the signposts. 

The cactus paper is great, so quirky and it really made me smile. I had a turquoise ribbon scrap which coordinated well with the tones in thge cacti, and I dug out a sheet of paper in a very similar shade to use for my matting and layering. 

I was stuck for how to present the little scene I had cut out, till I remembered the tutorial published by Kathy Crafts this week on creating an ink wash. I really like the look of blended backgrounds, but I don’t seem to be able to do it, but I thought I would give an ink wash a try. I think I used a little too much water as my card buckled, and I made it a bit too even, but overall I was pleased with my first attempt.

At first I had a neat rectangle with my ink washed sky at the top, and I built up the scene I had cut out, but it didn’t quite look right. It was too neat. I tore the edges and much prefer the more relaxed look. 

The ‘hello’ sentiment is from the free stamps. I was very impressed as it stamped perfectly using the lid of the ink instead of an acrylic block! (Sometimes when I realise I want a sentiment it’s late in my crafty day and I get lazy, my stamping drawer is a whole four or five steps away).

 I wasn’t quite sure where to put the sentiment signpost, so I built up my card front and tried it in several positions before I chose to have it slightly tucked behind the topper. 

This is a totally different card to anything I’d usually make, and that’s what I like about the magazine. I was pleased with the finished card, it definitely made me feel a bit cheery

Advertisement