Customizing Card Designs from a Virtual Class
Based on the newest class at Online Card Classes – So Very Merry.
Have you taken any of the Online Card Classes classes? I’ve found the ones I’ve taken to be very inspiring! They’re very technique/process focused. Whether you’re new or very experienced, there are always tips to learn, or a new approach and new ways to use a product you have, or simply a way to break out of our comfort zone and rediscover something we’d forgotten or haven’t done in a while. Here are a few of the reasons I think they’re so valuable:
They are a great form of “guided creative play”. Especially if you feel like youve lost your groove or don’t know what to start, you can play a lesson and create along (at your own pace, thanks to that wonderful ability to pause when you need to) and you’ll end up with wonderful cards.
They’re available for you to watch and create along with at your own pace. Binge a bunch in a day or weekend, or spread them out as much as you want. Once you have it in your account, the classes will be there.
In addition to the great video lessons from some of your favorite instructors, they also have a downloadable/printable pdf that shows pictures, lists the steps AND lists/links the products used in the lesson.
The price point of these is very affordable. All of them are designed to let you shop from your stash for the products to create along with the classes. The lessons tell you what type of stamp or stencil might be best for a technique
I won’t be sharing all the steps here, because that’s part of the class and you can get that content there, but will share colors and some information about unique things I did.
Approach:
After a busy few weeks with less time to make things than I prefer, I was feeling a little bit off my creative groove. I started (in no particular order) with the pictures from the class document and began creating.
This class is designed to give you many cards from each lesson, but I decided to use the multiples as a way to explore variations. I like to use the lesson as a starting point and put my own twist on it.
This So Very Merry class is the first one they’ve offered the option of buying a product bundle for. It is not necessary at all, but I thought it would be fun to try that way for a change, and the design of it is totally my style and I knew it was product I’d use repeatedly beyond the class. The products are available from a couple of online retailers, and you can find that info here. Remember - you don’t need this to do the class. You could also get the class and create from your stash, and then get some of the products later if you decided you want to.
I’ll be sharing cards here in the order I did them, not in the order of the class.
Techniques:
These layouts are a minor variation from the one Kristina showed in class.
For one, I did my stenciling at an angle, and then cut the edge at the same angle. Leaving the die cut layers overhanging the edge creates a unique visual interest with the shadow and depth.
I don’t often do flat stencil or stamped only cards, so I added some die cut detail to each card, but slightly different on each.
I highly recommend using a grip mat with your stencils! I love the silicone ones, and find they make stenciling SO much easier. You can find them from different companies, and a couple are linked in my supply list below.
Colors:
I used one color palette for all the cards in this lesson.
cardstock: Concord & 9th Poppy, Tidepool, and Oceanside.
ink: Concord & 9th Poppy, Sorbet, Lemongrass, Parsley, Tidepool, and Oceanside. Black.
Techniques:
This card is based off of the alternate card Jaycee showed at the end of his lesson.
The trees in the background - both stamped (stripe) and stenciled (small) were created with inks in the same colors as the two dimensional trees, but I did it so the colors alternate across the card.
I used a stencil to add some smaller trees to the background using the Sorbet ink. I varied the intensity of ink as I applied it so those trees have some color variation in spite of using only one ink color.
Colors:
cardstock: Concord & 9th Poppy, Sorbet, and Nectar.
ink: Concord & 9th Poppy and Sorbet.
Techniques:
This is based on the ones Jaycee showed in class, but I made some variations.
I created the tree with two colors of cardstock. For the front (Clementine) piece I stamped on it with snowflake stamps before adding the fringe, and then added a die cut snowflake in Poppy (to match the other tree layers).
For this tree I used one fewer tree piece, and glued them together more completely. It still has texture, but in a simpler way.
Colors:
cardstock: Concord & 9th Poppy, Sorbet, and Clementine.
ink: Concord & 9th Creamsicle and Mushroom.
Techniques:
This is based on the shaped card Jennifer showed in class, but I thought it would be fun to do a rainbow of smaller trees using the same technique to add texture. I’m sure I’ll do the shaped card later.
I decided that I wanted the debossed side of the snowflake pattern on the trees to be the side that is up. It is more crisply defined, since it is the side that was pressed into. (Did you notice that I decided this after I glued one down the other way? See if you notice which color shows the embossed side.)
Tip: if you want a trick to remember the difference between debossing and embossing, think that the “d” for deboss is also the first letter in down. Debossing presses down into, and embossing is a raised effect, like we get when heat embossing.To carry that snowflake pattern to the background, I stamped coordinating snowflakes. I didn’t want them to have too much contrast, since the trees already bring plenty of color and texture, so I used a light ink (Lost Shadow Distress Oxide) and a distress technique. After I inked the inked the stamps, I misted it with water before pressing it onto the cardstock. This also created a frosty effect that enhanced the wintery feel.
Colors:
cardstock: Concord & 9th Wildberry, Poppy, Sorbet, Clementine, Lemongrass, Avocado, Oceanside, and Blueberry. Hero Arts Pitch Black. Neenah Solar White.
ink: Distress Oxide Lost Shadow.
Techniques:
This is based a lot like the one Jennifer showed in class. My main variation were in colors and stenciled pattern, making the tree lighter than the background and adding in some stenciled stripes at the top and bottom of the card front.
Because the front design becomes part of the inside as well, with the way the fold works, I carried some of the colors and patterns to the inside of the card as well.
I chose a different, more bold greeting for the front, and embossed that in silver.
Colors:
cardstock: Concord & 9th Lemongrass, Aqua Sky, and Peacock.
ink: Concord & 9th Aqua Sky, and Peacock.
I’ll be adding more here, so keep an eye out! Check out the class at Online Card Classes to sign up or get more details about lessons, products, and techniques. I really recommend these!
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.
*Affiliate links do not cost you any more when you shop, but it is beneficial to creators when you use them, so thanks in advance!