One of the folks I follow on YT, Amy Love (YT: Amy Love), who claims she is not much of a card maker, asked folks to share how they would make a card without using fancy crafting tools or dies. So I decided\u00a0to try to create a Primitive style monochromatic card that would still have interesting layers, patterns and textures.<\/p>\n

<\/a>I used the Mama Elephant “Honey Bunny” stamps set<\/a><\/span> (also available HERE<\/a><\/span> in the UK) and used Tim Holtz Distress Markers in Tea Dye, Vintage Photo, and Gathered Twigs to water color the image with a water brush. I fussy cut that out and inked the edges (so that the white edge of the paper didn’t show). Then to frame it out, I “contained” the image on a white paper doily that I inked with Antique Linen Distress Ink.<\/p>\n

To create some interesting layers, I searched through my patterned paper scrap box and used more of the pale chevron patterned paper that I had used last week as “wallpaper” on THIS<\/a><\/span> scene card, a bit of shimmery cream paper for matting, and some strips of overlapping circle\u00a0patterned papers\u00a0and a polka dot vellum scrap. To add a little sparkle, I also balled up some DMC gold thread to layer behind the paper doily. As a finishing touch to the card <\/a>front I also used\u00a0some Teresa Collins wood dots. I love how that extended the natural look and added dimension and interest too.<\/p>\n

For the inside of the card, I kept it simple. I used the “some bunny loves you” sentiment from the same Mama Elephant stamp set and stamped it out using Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Vintage Photo. \u00a0I used more Vintage Photo\u00a0as well as Tea Dye Distress Ink to edge many of the matting layers on the card and banner too. Those little edging details I think really make the difference in how finished a card looks. I also added a little banner that I cut out from the left over snippet of the overlapping circle patterned paper that I\u00a0used on the card front.<\/p>\n

The following is a start-to-finish card tutorial in which I explain the design process as well as some tips for card making:<\/p>\n