End of the Week Technique #39 - Using Framelets to Alter Layers

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Hey y'all. Happy Friday! I hope you've had an Amazing week and are looking forward to an equally Amazing weekend. My week is ending on a high note since I found out I was chosen as an Operator's Pick over at Stamping 411. How exciting!?! I love playing along with them, if you haven't checked them out, make sure you do...just after you're done here. Kay?

Today's card is one I made for a recent team swap. I'd been wanting to do this technique for a while and I think it ended up working just fine for this card. Here's today's card-

Any Occasion Card featuring
Betsy's Blossoms and Friendly Phrases and Labels Framelet

I was so happy this card turned out, because I ended up doing 14 of them in one evening! Nothing like a last minute save. I can't remember what was going on that week, but I try not to let swaps come down to the last minute, because augh, you know I hate that added pressure! :) Actually they were card fronts so I did everything except the So Saffron card-base, but still a lot of work.

First I decided which size Labels Framelet I wanted to use. I think this is the third largest one. Once I decided just where I wanted it in the framelet (how wide, how narrow, how many "bumps" etc.) I cut out all of my pieces. The tutorial for this is later on in the post.

After I had all my W.W. c/s pieces cut out, it was time for the fun stuff. I started off trying to brayer the color on for the sky. Yeah, that was so Not happening! After about the 5th try I gave up on that idea for fear I wouldn't have enough Whisper White c/s left to do the swaps at all. I then decided to just sponge the sky, so out came the sponges and the blues and the Large Scalloped Circle Punch (to make the clouds) and I got busy. I used Bashful Blue and some Marina Mist and sponged until I got the effect I liked. Then I sponged the edge with Baja Breeze for a little depth and contrast. I also lightly sponged over the whole piece in a circular motion to give a more "blended appearance" instead of the more defined "clouds" appearance.  I stamped all my sentiments in Midnight Muse at the bottom of the layer so I had a better idea of where to place my sun. I then inked up my "sun" with the largest flower in the Betsy's Blossom set. I know you're probably tired of seeing cards with this set but it's just so versatile and so darn sweet! I inked it up with my Daffodil Delight Classic Ink Pad then "rolled" the edge of the stamp on my Tangerine Tango pad. This gave a two-toned look and added depth to the image. Between this and my sky, everyone was ensured a "one of a kind" swap. The only thing I wish I'd done differently would have been to stamp the sun a little higher so the branch/leaves wouldn't be behind the ribbon.

Next came my sweet little bird, and a surprise design find! My original plan was to stamp the bird twice and then cut out the wings and pop them up on Dimensionals. Well, let me tell you what happened instead. I stamped that sweet little bird down in front of the sun and lookie at what a pretty design effect it made when the pattern/colors from the sun mixed with the colors and patterns on the wing. *Score!!!* Serendipity, I tell you, what a happy little finding. Why yes, since you asked...I did do a little *happy dance* : D

All that was left then was to stamp my branch/leaves (Gumball Green) under her and attach my Daffodil Delight ribbon. Instead of wrapping the ribbon around the layer I used my Stampin Mist Bottle to tie a knot near the end of a length of ribbon ( I think it was about 8"), snip the loop at an angle and then SNAIL the ends under my layer. I often do this instead of wrapping the whole layer. That's extra ribbon I can use on another project that would simply be hidden otherwise. I don't know about you but anything that conserves my supplies and still gives me a pretty look is A-OK with me.

This whole layer was secured to a base of Bashful Blue c/s with Dimensionals. I later added this layer to my So Saffron base with Dimensionals after I ran my base through my Big Shot with the Perfect Polka-Dots Embossing Folder.

Here's the inside-

Inside of Card with
Betsy's Blossoms "Sun" and Bird

For the inside I stamped another sentiment from Friendly Phrases in Midnight Muse. I really do love how you can mix and match the sentiments to convey different thoughts. I used the same technique on the inside as I did on the outside. I simply stamped everything off once to get a lighter image. O.K., look I don't know who Betsy is but I'm tired of calling the sweet little bird "her" so from now on she's Betsy! LOL.Well, at any rate, Betsy looked a little pale after stamping off, but would have been too intense against the muted sun so I had to figure out a way to make her shine. Get it?!? Make her shine. So I got out my thinking hat...Think, Think, Think....Come on- you know you're saying it with me in your best Pooh-Bear voice.  ( I really love him and his cuddly, all stuffed with fluff self!) Tink to the rescue. She made Betsy shine so pretty and for once, you can even see the shine. Woo-Hoo! Do you Love it? I do.  :)

Now for a quick little tutorial on today's technique. I'm sure you could do this with just about any framelet but I chose the Labels one for today's card. I can't wait to try it with some others too.

Here's what you're going to need- Framelet of your choosing in the size of your choosing, cardstock, Big Shot, platform and cutting pads and a post it note or piece of painters tape.

Here's the quick and easy way to use your framelets to completely customize your layers-

1- Figure out how wide you want your layer to be and choose a framelet thats' inside width is your desired width. 

2- Cut a strip of c/s to the desired length. Cut the width so that it will fit inside of your framelet. I chose to lay my framelet on my grid paper to measure the inside width and then cut my paper to that measurement. (But that could just be the OCD in me!)

3- Slide your c/s inside your framelet from the top so that the edge you want to cut is under the blade. Position it, while it's on the platform with both tabs closed and cutting pad, so that you are happy with how it sits and it has even borders on the side, like this- 

 

4- Once you're satisfied with the positioning use a post-it note or a piece of painters tape to secure the framelet to your c/s and cutting pad. Strictly speaking you could omit this step but I wouldn't. The chances that you will move the framelet or your c/s when applying the top cutting pad is high. Using either of these will help ensure everything stays in place and will not tear or damage your c/s. It will look like this-

5- Run your framelet through your Big Shot but only until you pass the portion you wish to cut. Then back it out. If you run it all the way through, the top portion of your c/s will have an embossed edge. Remove your top cutting pad and the post-it note/painters tape and you have a new and exciting edge to your layer.

Pretty Cool Right!?!

6- Smile when you see your cool new layer and decorate it however you'd like.

7- Smile when you finish your card/project and smile even more when you think about the joy it's going to bring to someone and the smile it will bring to their face.

This is a pretty cool way to add a new and different kind of layer to your cards/projects. I especially like that you can make them not only in the sizes of the framelets but even then you can adjust your sizes. I chose to only have the center curve and the two curves to either side. I could have taken it over just an 1/8" or so more to each side and added that curve as well. This is totally customizable to you and your design desires. Play around with it and see what you come up with.

That's all I have for you today. I hope you liked today's card and End of the Week Technique. I know I sure had fun making it. I really hope it inspires you to try something new today. Don't be a Scaredy Cat! You know the motto here- Just try! Have fun! What's the worst that could happen? You end up with a few new scraps of cardstock to use for another project. :) As always, if you create something with this technique, I'd love to see it. I love hearing from you and I read all of my comments. So, if you liked today's card/technique and have a moment to drop me a line, it would make my day. If you'd like to +1 or pin today's card I've put the buttons on my side-bar for your convenience. Friends and Followers are always welcome too! :)

Thanks so much for taking time out of your busy day to stop by my little bit of stamping happiness here. I really do appreciate all of you! {(hugs)} I hope you have an Amazing weekend filled with lots of time for Family, Friends and of course creativity! Till next time-

Remember- Life is often more about the storms than the peace they seek to overwhelm. It's not about Waiting for the storms to pass, but learning to Dance in the rain. 

Be Safe,

Shan

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