I hope everyone is enjoying summer!
I have been inspired by all of the color in the garden, so I have been having fun creating cards with lots of color. I realized as I was working that I was making some of the same cards, but with different color schemes and decided it would be a fun idea to make a video sharing these different color changes.
Oh goodness, but where to start? There are as many options as there are colors!
I think paper crafters in general are a bit obsessed with color - and inked backgrounds create a lot of opportunity to try out different color combinations. So I used a bunch of Distress Oxide ink in today's video - and that rich, intense color did not disappoint!
I did three different compositions in the video - and varied the color scheme on each of them to show how different they can be.
First up, I used the Thought Cloud die along with several coordinating clear stamp sets and word dies.
The Thought Cloud die is so versatile - it is big and open enough to put a bunch of different sentiments inside and I love the proportion it is relative to an A2 card size.
Plus, it still leaves plenty of room for a spectacular inked background!
I designed a bunch of word dies that coordinate with clear stamp sets - so that when they are used together you can create a complete sentiment. Mixing a stamped sentiment with an oversized word die is fun and looks great on a card - like using the Perky Wishing You die with the CL5206 Wishing You Sentiments clear stamp set. Or combining the Perky Happy Birthday die with the CL5211 Birthday Sentiments clear stamp set - there are several phrases in each of the clear stamp set, so it is fun to rearrange and combine depending on the card.
I created plenty of Distress Oxide backgrounds in the video - what could be more fun than experimenting with different colors on a craft mat and ending up with beautiful watercolor backgrounds to use on greeting cards? I used Distress Oxide ink in Wilted Violet and Faded Jeans to create the mix of purples here - and stamped the words in Wilted Violet.
I am a big fan of all the texture you can create with this technique - and I love experimenting with different amounts of water and ink to create one of a kind art every time.
Here I used Distress Oxide Ink in Peeled Paint and Fossilized Amber - what a beautiful change to a green color scheme!
I mashed the cardstock over and over into the ink on the craft mat - drying each time before soaking up more ink.
I tried the same design out in a different color and sentiment too - this time using Distress Oxide Spiced Marmalade and Fossilized Amber for a golden background. I stamped with the CL5211 Birthday Sentiments clear stamp set and paired that with the Perky Happy Birthday die - the same die and stamp set I used on the green card, but just changed up the phrase!
If you want to make a more general greeting, then the CL5209 Beautiful Day Sentiments clear stamp set will be very useful. Combined with the Perky Beautiful Day die, these two items can help you create some uplifting cards for any moment.
The background uses Distress Oxide in Broken China and Cracked Pistachio - I loved how soft and mellow it turned out. But then...
... I wondered how it would look with a brighter color scheme using Distress Oxide in Spiced Marmalade and Fossilized Amber! Notice that I am die cutting the words in colors that are close to the background, to help keep the color scheme tight.
Oh - did you notice those detailed frames? Those are the Open Studio Scallop Stitch Fancy Frames - they create such a delicate treatment on the outside of the card! I kept them plain white, so that the color would really pop.
I really enjoy how these look bundled together - they would make a terrific stationery set as a gift.
Next, I created a rainbow flower border using the Floral Fantasy Frame die - this composition is super easy!
Just sponge some color around the edges, making sure that you overlap, and then glue the die cut on top. The way the color shifts through the openings in the flower is mesmerizing.
Take a look at this second card - I used more blues and purples on it - and it really changed the feel. The Perky Thank You die and the CL5210 Thank You Sentiments create a terrific greeting for the front and I used matching browns (brown cardstock and Distress Oxide Vintage Photo) to complete the sentiment.
I use that composition quite a bit - neutral color in the middle with vivid color around the side. It seems to work 99% of the time to create a stunning card - but I decided to try something completely opposite and use black - and I was so excited with how it turned out!
I seriously stared at this for about 5 minutes after taking the photo - the contrast of the black over the rainbow colors is stunning!
Compare it to the neutral colors - both are great, but I may have to do an entire video using black cardstock!
Which do you like better?
I embossed the CL5210 Thank You Sentiments Clear Stamp set in White Embossing Powder and die cut the Perky Thank You die in white - to really stand out from the black cardstock. The color practically glows from the card!
For the last card in the video, I used the Chrysanthemum Border die to edge the top and bottom of the card. The concept is still the same - color shows through the negative spaces of the die, and a neutral cardstock is layered over the middle to create a base for the sentiment.
I kept the color scheme a little tighter here, just simplifying the range from yellow to pink using Distress Oxide in Worn Lipstick , Spiced Marmalade and Fossilized Amber for a sponged background.
It is fun to see where the color ends up peeking through the chrysanthemums - so I decided to try a different color scheme with some more subdued colors...
Since my color scheme shifted to blues and violets, I chose a "neutral" middle piece of light blue. I thought this would be a good get well card, so I used the Perky Prayers die along with the CL5208 Prayers Sentiments Clear Stamp set.
What is compelling about this is that there are subtle levels in the card - little wells of color down in the petal outlines and then raised cardstock for the word "prayers".
And what a difference a change of color makes! These gorgeous hues pop through the outline and make the card feel so very different from the other chrysanthemum card.
So, there you have it! Go now and gather your supplies and make some backgrounds - when you design a card, make several color schemes using the same composition, so you can surprise yourself with combinations you had never thought of before!