11/20/2017

Believe in Magic - Adding Dimension to a Clean and Simple Card

It's another magical Monday with today's card.  I made this card for this week's CAS Colours & Sketches sketch challenge.  I used two techniques to give this clean and simple card a little bit of dimension and interest.  When adding to a CAS card you need to be careful not to add too much, or your card is suddenly no longer CAS!
I started with a panel of mixed media paper cut to 5 1/4 x 4 inches.  I used a die to cut the swirl then I watercolored around it using Distress Inks.  I love doing cards like this - they are very organic and no two ever come out the same.  I started with the lightest ink and added some darker blues to the center.  Then I added more light around the edges.  In between I used a heat gun to dry my layers.  I kept doing this until I was satisfied with the look.  When I was finished I adhered the panel to a top folding A2 card base.

I struggled with the right sentiment when I came across this one in my stash.  It seemed to fit perfectly.  I heat embossed it on a black panel and cut it to size.  I didn't want it flush with the card base, that seemed too flat and it needed some depth.  I tried using foam tape on the back but then it was way too high for the size of the strip.  It looked a bit ridiculous.  I ended up lifting it off the card slightly by using a stack of four pieces of black card stock the same size.  This has become one of my go to ways to add dimension.

I wanted the swirl to have some sparkle but not in an obvious way, so I added some clear glitter enamel dots.
Some I added to the blue areas and some fit perfectly in the holes created by the dots.  Because they are clear and glittery, they add just a hint of sparkle.  Hard to see in the photo but pretty striking in person.  Just enough to emphasize the "magic" of the image.

Adding dimension with a few layers of card stock and adding some interest with clear embellishments are two ways to add something extra to your cards while still keeping things simple.

Stamp: Impression Obsession Words for Art
Die: Simon Says Stamp Bubble Breeze
Distress Inks: Broken China, Mermaid Lagoon, Blueprint Sketch, Faded Jeans

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5 comments:

  1. Gorgeous card, Jeanne! Love the watercolor around the swoosh - and that sentiment is perfect! Thanks for playing along with us at CC&S!

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  2. Wow this is so pretty I love all the subtle details you have been able to include whilst still keeping your card CAS! Thanks for sharing with us at CC&S!

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  3. Fabulous card, beautiful details. Try using fun foam, it's a lot thinner than foam tape. Thanks for playing along with us at CC&S.

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    1. Thank you for the tip. I'll need to get some and try that.

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  4. What an interesting and gorgeous take on our sketch challenge! That swirl die is really neat, and your watercoloring makes it even more cool! Thanks for making CC&S part of your crafting time!
    P.S. I too use small pieces of cardstock to add just a little dimension to my cards. It's a great way to use up scraps!

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