I’m normally a very exacting, type-A kind of person so the easy breezy technique of shadow stamping (stamping offset) really was out of my comfort zone. So I decided to dip a toe in by cutting up some green card stock to create some small 4″ x 4″ note card bases.
I chose some simple ginko leaf stamps that were part of a Martha Stewart stamp set gifted to me three years ago when I first started crafting on YoutTube from a sweet and encouraging crafter/friend, Elaine Rico. I put them on an acrylic block facing in different directions and started stamping them with Tsukineko Brilliance Moonlight White pigment ink. Because I had chosen a medium green textured card stock for the card bases, it took a couple of impressions to get decent coverage, but uneven coverage seemed okay for this loose, more artsy technique anyway. I heat set all the white ink because I didn’t want smearing before moving on to the next stamp layer. Then I took the stamps in the same positions and inked them up with Ranger Adirondack Stream pigment ink (this is a dark green). Being careful to offset the stamping in the same direction, I stamped out all the ginko leaves again.
For the sentiment, I had picked up a freebie at the Scrapbook Expo from Richard Garay that said “Enjoy the Journey” in a loose script that seemed perfect for these note cards. I inked these up with Momento Luxe Tuxedo Black ink and used my MISTI to stamp the sentiment (again, the heavy texture of the green card stock made repeated stamping a must for adequate coverage).Then I used some clear embossing powder to heat emboss the sentiment, giving it a nice finished shiny look.
The cards were looking a little too plain so I decided to doodle some zig zaggy borders (reminiscent of heart monitor lines) around each card with a white gelly roll pen. Oh I liked them much better now; it’s amazing what adding something as simple as a doodled border can do! 🙂 I also decided to doodle on some black dots around the sentiment with a black uniball pen, each of which I topped with a dot of Glossy Accents to match the shine of the heat embossed sentiment (I suspect if I had a black Glaze pen I could have skipped this step).
Usually making a card takes me a full day, but I made a set of these note cards and matching envelopes in under two hours! I was floored by how quick and easy this was. If you’re ever in a jam to make a card fast, I highly recommend shadow stamping.
These cards are being entered into the following challenges:
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Make for the Border Challenge
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends Anything Goes Challenge
Word Art Wednesday Anything Goes Challenge
Through the Craft Room Door Anything Goes Challenge
Creatalicious Anything Goes with Optional Black and White and One Color Challenge – Green
MFT Camp Create Stunning Shadow Stamping Challenge
I want to say a special THANK YOU to My Favorite Things for their wonderful Camp Create series. I learned so many wonderful techniques and the three, week-long series kept me motivated all summer long (even when my crafty mojo seemed to take a vacation). I participated in each and every camp lesson (yes, all 15 plus the bonus camp fire one too), and I feel so accomplished! LOL 🙂
Thank you so much for entering our ATG challenge at Through The Craft Room Door this week. Looking forward to seeing you again next challenge.
Crafty hugs,
Ema
Thank you very Much Ema!
Lovely little note cards Kristina,and you’re so right,the little doodled border really makes such a difference! xx
Thanks bunches Ann! It’s funny how a little doodling can change the whole look of a card. 🙂
Great cards !
Thank you for join us at the Creatalicious Challenge!
Good luck.
Jessica DT
Thanks bunches Jessica!
Love the one layer set of note cards! Truly beautiful! So glad that you join the fun over Simon Says Stamp Wednesday” Make for the Border” Challenge! Awesome details and design! Super work!
Thanks so much Virginia! I thought these cards might be too simple to share, so I really appreciate your kind comment! Big hugs, Kristina
Lovely note cards. Thank you for sharing with us at Creatalicious and we hope to see you again soon. Hugs, Gale DT
Thanks so much Gale! I appreciate you taking the time to leave a sweet comment! Big hugs, Kristina
Wonderful cards!
Thank you soo much for taking part in our “anything goes with optional black & white + one colour” challenge over at Creatalicious & good luck in the draw.
Hope to see you again in our new challenge as well…
Hugs,
Melanie
(DT-Coordinator Creatalicious Challenges)
(DT Crafty Friends)
(DT The Sketchy Challenges)