Sometimes ideas come from unexpected places. In this case, from what I thought was scrap cardstock. (It isn’t the first time that has happened for me.) I love to follow those tangents when they show up… it is a sure way to find my flow.

I had a chance to borrow a friend’s Concord & 9th All Wrapped Up die set, and was die cutting some pieces for my favorite bow in the bundle. I noticed the fun shapes that left in my cardstock (the Artichoke/green piece), and decided to see what I could do with it.

Card 1:

I liked the shapes it created, and though the positive/negative spaces had a fun play. I tried backing this Artichoke colored piece with Dragonfruit and liked the energy that brought it, but it needed something. I stamped some florals with Versamark ink on the Dragonfruit cardstock so they would show through the cutouts. (In addition to the contrast of the colors, that also contributes a bit of organic form to the very bold and blocky geometric shape from the bow piece.)

This called for a simple and bold white sentiment, and this one from CZ Design / Simon Says Stamp finished it off well, with the added supplemental contrast of the small sentiment from Honey Bee Stamps that I embossed in white on the black cardstock strip.

Card 2:

So, if I can create with the scrap from cutting out those bow pieces, what about the pieces themselves - but not as a bow? I really liked the river/path space that was created along the base of these pieces, so I played that up and let it be a sort of loose baseline across the card front for a big greeting.

The colors used on this card are Artichoke (background panels), Avocado, for the bow pieces, and Grapefruit for the hearts. The stitched hearts are from the Love Quilt Top Dies, and the “hello” from the Quintessential Scripty Sayings Dies.

Card 3:

Those two cards use some of the bigger pieces of the bow, but what about that little one? It could make a sort of flower, or they could be combined to make a star, or it even has a bit of an arrow feel. Here’s a take on that, using a different color palette that I really enjoy.

I arranged that center bow piece (cut from Dragonfruit, Sweet Pea, Sorbet, and Oceanside) on a base of Pebble and Mushroom cardstock. I used the Positively Stitched Card Front Die on the Mushroom piece to add some subtle interest and texture to it. The “thanks” on this card is from the Short & Sweet Dies, and the small sentiment is the Mini Messages. (All links are below.)

Thank you for visiting! I hope you get some time to create something soon.
Links are below if you’re interested in any of the products I used. If you follow the link to Jennifer’s blog, she shares the links for the supplies she used.

Supply list*:

Concord & 9th -

• All Wrapped Up Dies

• Triple Step Floral Frame Stamp Set

• Quintessential Scripty Sayings Dies

• Love Quilt Top Dies

• Positively Stitched Card Front Die

• Short & Sweet Dies

• cardstock: Dragonfruit, Sweet Pea, Sorbet, Avocado, Artichoke, Oceanside, Pebble, Mushroom, Black, White

Gina K Designs - Connect glue

Simon Says Stamp / CZ Design - Love You Dies

Honey Bee Stamps -

• Mini Messages Stamp Set

• Mini Messages Banners Dies

*Affiliate links have been used with no cost difference for you.