To make background patterned paper, I started with watercolor paper cut down to a weird shape, 11″ by 7 7/8″..I’d recommend you use a normal size of paper if you can…It’s easier to work with.

I used Pegstamps.com, Blue Eden stamp set, link: https://tinyurl.com/yy2bdm35
I chose additional peg stamps to use:
Flower Six Happy: https://tinyurl.com/y4gz7372
Little Flower: https://tinyurl.com/y4v6kq7j                                                                          Solid Swirl peg stamp link: https://tinyurl.com/y3nv37ou

I used a variety of inks:
Distress Ink (Not Oxides)
Faded Jeans
Stormy Sky
Chipped Sapphire
Tumbled Glass
Pine Needles
Iced Spruce

Stampin’ Up ink: Always Artichoke

I trimmed the stamps so there wouldn’t be a halo from the rubber on the edges…If your stamps engulf the whole rubber space, you won’t need to do this, but if your image is smaller than the rubber area, trim the stamp with utility scissors, Tim Holtz scissors work best for me.  I prefer his smallest and middle size scissors.

To stamp a whole background, you should start stamping in a corner, not the middle. I started with Faded Jeans for the big flower and Pine Needles for the greenery, but didn’t like that green and changed it out to Stampin’ Up’s Always Artichoke. I used the small flower with Stormy Sky. I used Iced Spruce for the small greenery. I changed to Chipped Sapphire for the big flower….and then decided I needed more filler stamps, so added Flower Six Happy Link: https://tinyurl.com/y4gz7372 and Little Flower Link: https://tinyurl.com/y4v6kq7j

I decided I needed to use Stabilo 68 pens link: https://tinyurl.com/y4s3k8l5 to fill in the big blue flowers with brighter shades, so they popped more..I don’t think my ink pads were as juicy as they should have been.

I dried the paper and used Brutus Monroe Embossing Ink after rubbing the entire surface with corn starch in an old knee high doubled over and knotted….
I used a solid swirl peg stamp link: https://tinyurl.com/y3nv37ou
with the embossing ink and put a light gold embossing powder over them and heat set them to create a more dimensional background.

I watched a Clarity stamps video where she used a pocket protector on her die cutting machine,  and I folded it to fit on my cutting plates with the paper and die on top, and once it goes through your die cutting machine, you’ll end up not having to pick out little pieces that the die holds, and it saves your cutting plates from getting damaged. I cut a few hellos and a thinking of you, and thanks.

To make my first card:
I cut a piece of white card stock to 5 1/2″ tall by 8 1/2″ wide, then scored it on the 8 1/2″ length at 2 1/8″ then flipped the paper to the other end of the 8 1/2″ length and scored that end at 2 1/8″ then used my bone folder to fold them into the center to create a gate fold card. I added a layer of green cardstock with Plus Corporation Glue Dots tape runner. The green paper is cut to 5 1/4″ tall by 1 7/8″ wide.. I cut the patterned paper to 5″ tall by 1 5/8″..I had some flowers on my patterned paper that I didn’t like, so made a belly band to hide it. The belly band is 3/4″ tall by 11″ long..I wrapped it around the center of the card and put tape runner on the end and laid the other end over it.
I used an adhesive remover to take off excess tape runner that was outside of where I wanted it.. Xyron adhesive remover link: https://tinyurl.com/y66sgroe I added gold ribbon over the green paper strip using tear tape link :https://tinyurl.com/y6mxh372
behind it then added the hello sentiment in the center with wet glue Essentials by Tonic.

Card 2: Used blue cardstock 8 1/2″ high (scored at 4 1/4″) by 5 1/2″ wide. Used Diamond Dies from Tonic Essentials. Used a length of white sheer ribbon and laid tear tape near the base of the front of the card and wrapped the ribbon around it, then added a blue zig-zag ribbon on top with tear tape under it as well.  I added green buttons to the zig-zag  ribbon to give it more interest.  I cut three pieces of my patterned card with diamond die (third largest) then cut three (next larger size die) gold foil paper and adhered the two together with glue and laid them on the card front above the ribbon..I put the side diamond pieces on first, making sure each was the same height and the same distance from the side of the card base, then laid the center one over the other two, as it makes it easier to center them if you do it this way….I used “thinking of you” die cut in green, and glued it to gold cardstock, then trimmed it out with scissors and glued this over the diamonds in the center.

Card 3: 8 1/2″ (scored at 4 1/4″) x 5 1/2″ wide white card base with rounded corners using the Kadomaro Pro (normally found on Amazon). I colored the edges with Distress Ink Scattered Straw and used a brush to add the color, link: https://tinyurl.com/y2nskv7a.  I have not liked these brushes because the handles are flimsy, but later use a metal handled brush like it, that I really do like, (and ordered more of).  I cut a piece of blue glitter paper to 5 1/4″ wide by 4″ tall and adhered it to the card base. I cut my designer paper to 5″ x 3 3/4″ wide and put foam tape link: https://tinyurl.com/y3l9kp47 on the back and adhered it to the front of the card. I added thanks to the center of the card with wet glue.

Card 4:  I used 5 1/2″ wide by 4 1/4″ tall white card base, with a blue layer that was 5 3/8″ x 4 1/8″ tall. I used Salty Ocean Distress Ink on the edges of the white card base with the gold neck brush, that I like much better than the black handled ones. Link: https://tinyurl.com/y5cuoa35
I used teardrop shaped dies link: https://tinyurl.com/y67k2eog and cut four of my background paper with a middle size teardrop, and one size larger die to cut gold pieces..I added them in a zig zag pattern to the front of the card, then took a Thanks die cut and added it to the center. I used Studio G glitter glue in blue and added it to the word thanks. Glitter glue takes a really long time to dry..
I added the larger blue flowers from the peg stamp Blue Eden set around the tear drops then used the glitter glue on them.  I added some of the small greenery from the same set and stamped on either side of the blue flower using Stampin’ Up Always Artichoke ink.

Card 5:  Used a pre-made card base and added a layer of blue cardstock with foam tape under it, then a layer of my patterned paper on top (the rest that I had left)…sorry, I don’t have the sizes for you. I added blue Stickles to the flowers on the front of the card and then put the word Hello up on foam tape and added it near the bottom of the front of the card. I used a white gel pen to add dashes and dots to the hello and around the blue paper lining it.  Lastly, used Wink of Stella on the blue paper and on hello and on the flowers that didn’t have any Stickles on them to create a more glittery look.

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