TWO ROMANTIC COLLAGE CARDS

Janet has made two lovely cards to demonstrate how using decorative papers as inspiration can work wonderfully well when designing your cards.  In the first card, for example, she has used pink and yellow paper roses to decorate a framed element, echoing the colour of the blooms in the background paper.

A green and cream/gold theme has linked the elements of the second card.  It may not be evident from the picture, but some of the connections are quite subtle but still work to tie the components together - green chalk inked edges, small amounts of glitter in both background and toppers, mesh ribbon behind the birdcage echoing the shabby chic appearance of the script in the paper etc.  This card is on the wall in Regal, if you'd like to see the real thing.

Although both cards would be suitable for many occasions including birthdays. anniversary, engagement or wedding, mother's day and more, you could also use them as a very special correspondence card to send a "snail mail" hello to a person who is important to you.

ROMANTIC CARDS

PRETTY FLORAL CARD

PRETTY STAMPED FLOWERS

Tania has featured a stamp from Paper Roses on her pretty floral card.

The image is has been heat embossed in black, and coloured with blended pencils.  By using colours more or less opposite on the colour wheel, Tania has made the image almost leap of the page.

A selection of greet decorative papers, a plain green backing and a die-cut bow complete the picture, with inked edges helping to blend the layers.

A single fold Regal card has been used as the base.

QUICK ALL-PURPOSE HORIZONTAL CARD

QUICK CARD

Sharon has made this quick card using papers from FabScraps, some stickers and flower embellishments.

You can adapt the idea to suite the materials you have at hand.

Start with a singlefold base card from Regal Craft Cards (available in over 30 colours), and use it in horizontal profile as a base.

All you need to do then is add "stripes" of co ordinating plain and/or patterned papers, and some (optional) stickers to disguise the joins, and you're done.  You can of course add embellishments such as the flowers and rhinestones used here (or small stamps, diecuts, pearls etc) and a greeting.  Sharon has used a ration of 1/3 at the base to 2/3 above which works well visually.

If you save your scraps in colour-matched snaplock bags you're good to go and this can be a 5 minute card for any occasion.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY "EXPLORE" CARD

HAPPY BIRTHDAY - HORIZONTAL BAR FOLD

Apologies in advance because this photo doesn't really do justice to this lovely card.

Janet has used a modified horizontal fold card and papers from the Kaiser 61/2" High Tide paper pad to make this card.

It would be suitable for anyone, but would be a good option for people searching for new ideas for "men's cards".

An anchor charm has been tied around the bar at the front, tied on with natural twine.  Janet has inked some edges and handrawn a border around others, with brown/sepia ink, which blends in beautifully with the blue/brown colour theme