Hello! Welcome back to my blog. Today's card was created as part of my Altenew Level 3 journey. On this card, I am showcasing what I have learned from the 3D Floral Focus by Therese Calvird, specifically the class on using Design Paper & Washi Tape. I did not use washi tape. I only used patterned papers except for the die cut backing in which I used cardstock. I used the same technique to a previous card I created. Please check it out if you are interested, Die Cut on Patterned Paper.
The patterned papers that I used are from the Simple Stories Autumn Splendor paper pad. Using a paper line on a project takes off the guess work on mixing and matching patterned papers since these papers complement each other.
Patterned papers are usually light weight. I wanted to make the die cuts sturdy so I adhered a light weight cardstock on the back of the patterned paper that I used. I die cut the flower and leaves from the Altenew Craft a Flower Daisy Layering die set. I inked the edges of the die cuts with color coordinating dye inks. This does not only add definition to each layer but it also hides the color of the cardstock that I adhered on the back of the die cut. I also used a glitter marker to add shimmer to the flower center.
Most of the work on this card was on the stitched frame. I trimmed the wooden patterned paper large enough to fit the die cut flower and leaves. I added the poking holes to this panel using an Altenew String Art Rectangles die. I did partial die cutting since the panel is smaller than the the largest rectangle die in the set.
Using a craft knife, I cut a window on this frame. Stitching the embroidery floss this frame proved to be a challenge. Because of the criss-cross design of the string art, the floss cannot be threaded too tight or too loose. Despite the cardstock backing, the frame curls if the tension of the floss is too tight. In hindsight, I would have cut a larger panel and backed it with a heavy weight cardstock instead of the lightweight cardstock. I will trim off the edges to make this into a frame once I am done with the stitching.
I trimmed the same wooden patterned paper at 5 1/2" x 4 1/4". I trimmed a scrap cardstock a little bit smaller than the stitched frame. I adhered strips of patterned paper to this cardstock panel. I used a lighter colored patterned paper from the paper pad. I swiped a baby wipe to this panel before embossing it with the Altenew Wicker Texture 3D embossing folder. This makes the paper resilient to the embossing, thus, prevent cracking. You can also lightly spray this instead of using a baby wipe. I blended a light brown ink to this panel to emphasize the raised areas of the embossed panel.
