September 23, 2010

A Big Day for Mini Cards

As I mentioned the other day, I like making cards in all types of shapes and sizes.  So when the Penny Black Design Team was challenged to make a set of “mini cards”, I was thrilled.  The guidelines were to cut an A2 card in half.  After some contemplation, I cut a side-folded card (4 ¼ x 5 ½) in half to create two 2 ¾ x 4 ¼ cards which fit my design idea.  You could also create two 2 1/8 x 5 ½ cards by cutting a 4 ¼ x 5 ½ top-folded card in half.



The “thanks” card  is in a portrait position with the fold at the top.  The blue cardstock base was stamped with Paisley Swirls in Danube Blue Memento.  The first inked impression was stamped on scrap paper and the second impression was used on the blue cardstock.  The white cardstock was dry embossed with a rectangle.  I cut a piece of heavy-weight cardboard to the size I needed and used that as a template on my light box.  Helpful Hint:  Buff the side being scored with wax paper to help the stylus move smoothly across the paper.  Stamp Delicate with black Memento ink and color with Copics.  Stamp one Mini Flutterby so it overhangs the edge of the cardstock and a second Mini Flutterby on a separate piece of cardstock.  Color the extra butterfly with Copics, trim, spray with Sheer Shimmer Spritz in sparkle and layer over the original stamped image.  The sentiment “thanks” is from the Sentiments set.


In this close-up you can see the glitter accents and gem stones.



The “cheer up” card is in a landscape position with the fold on the left.  Delicate was stamped multiple times across the white cardstock with black VersaFine ink and heat embossed with clear powder.  The flowers were watercolored with Staedtler-Mars brush markers.  The little grass border was created from a Fiskars border punch and elevated with dimensional foam.  The "cheer up" sentiment is also from the Sentiment set.  

Remember, using the same stamp doesn’t have to mean using the stamp in the same way.

These card sizes are so versatile.  Besides being easy to mail, they make great gift enclosures, tags and beautiful gift sets.

You can see more mini cards featured on the Penny Black Blog where the rest of the Design Team have their amazing artwork displayed. 

Thank you for stopping by the studio and if you haven't had a chance to check out the blog giveaway posted on September 20, there is still time to enter!


Enjoy,
Elizabeth