Hello everyone! I don't often make baby cards but a friend, who was blessed with a new grandchild, asked if I would design one for her to make. So I made two ... one in pastels and the other in bold colours ... rainbow of course! Not having any BABY themed stamp sets, I reached for Simon Says Stamp's Picture Book dies! Honestly, I love them, collect them (a work in progress!) and have them 'framed' in my craft room!!! I have included a pic just for fun! (Difficult angle to photograph but you get the idea!)
Back to the cards! Both cards were designed using the same techniques and a similar design with some of the elements switched up. It was fun to have a crafty day with my friend who is part of my small social distancing bubble!
The Background
Working on Bristol Smooth card stock, the panels were ink blended with Distress Oxide inks using rainbow colours.
Pastel Card Milled Lavender, Tumbled Glass, Bundled Sage, Scattered Straw, Dried
Marigold, Spun Sugar
Bold Card Wilted Violet, Faded Jeans, Mowed Lawn, Squeezed Lemonade, Carved
Pumpkin, Candied Apple
Texture was added with Simon Says Stamp's Reverse Polka Background. The stamp was inked with Versamark and embossed in white. I do not provide even pressure across the stamp; avoiding complete coverage. The panel and white sheet foam are die cut with the scalloped die in Simon Says Stamp's Frames. The central panel from this 2 piece die cut is adhered to foam and centred on an A2 sized card base. The scalloped frame is attached around the panel.
The Elements
Card stock colours were selected similar to the Distress Oxide inks used in each of the cards. Strips of paper were cut 1/4" wide and, following rainbow order, attached diagonally to card stock that has been prepared with double-sided tape (I used Sookwang). The HEY from Hey Mama (I made an error in the video and said it was from Hey Love!) and the Star Stream (this die is no longer available but have linked to Heart Stream ... a similar die), both Simon Says Stamp's products, were die cut from the paper pieced panel. The letters for the word BABY are also die cut from this same panel:
Pastel Card Altenew Bold Caps Alphabet & Numerals
Bold Card Altenew Fine Alphabet ... AND Simon Say's Giraffe
Because I am die cutting through two layers of card stock, I use my Gemini (electronic) in conjunction with my Big Shot (manual) die cutting machines.
Tip ... If you have a Gemini, you may find the tape you use to hold the dies in place can be very difficult to remove after the die cutting and may even damage the paper in the process. So much pressure in the Gemini! To avoid this issue, I run the dies back and forth through the manual die cutter so an impression is made. This impression holds the dies in place when they are run through the Gemini.
If you only have a manual die cutter, you will have to feed the dies back and forth several times and may even need to slide the blade on your scissors in places to release the die cut.
The Simon Says Stamp's Elephant (I used the little one) was die cut from patterned paper and stacked on foam. All of the other elements used with the exception of the Star Stream are also die cut from foam and stacked.
Putting It Together
All the elements were laid out to determine the placement for the letters spelling BABY. Using a T-ruler, the letters were adhered first before the rest of the elements were attached. To finish up the cards, BABY and the stars were given a glass-like finish with Nuvo Crystal Glaze. Black Nuvo Crystal Drops were applied to the Giraffe's eyes.
