Right as Rain - Cardmaking and Scrapbooking with Jean Manis

Exploring Card Background Options

In the world of handmade card crafting, each element – be it a focal image, a sentiment, or the background – plays a unique role. Among these components, the card background often acts as a silent player, setting the stage for your focal image and sentiment to shine. In this post, I will discuss paper-based background choices, including white and colored cardstock, color blocking, woodgrain textures, and patterned paper. Once I started writing this post, I realized the vastness of the topic. In a future post, I plan to write about additional background options such as dry-embossing, cover plates, and mixed media options. Throughout this post, I’ll be illustrating the background options with cards from my blog archive. Click on the card image to be taken to the original post.

Let’s start with the background that is readily available, affordable, and pairs with any theme – white cardstock. As I look back on my first cards, the majority were created on white cardstock, and I still choose a white cardstock background for my Clean and Simple (CAS) cards. Classic and versatile, white cardstock allows focal elements to stand out.

Available in a wide range of options at a reasonable cost, a colored cardstock background can contribute significantly to the overall impact of the card. Furthermore, a smooth-textured, colored background allows heat-embossed sentiments to stand out. Colored cardstock is a perfect choice for adding color and complementing a theme.

Woodgrain cardstock adds a touch of natural charm and warmth to handmade cards. Its textured appearance works particularly well when aiming for a rustic, nature-inspired, or vintage aesthetic. However, woodgrain cardstock comes with certain limitations, notably its relatively restricted color options.

Color blocking adds energy and visual interest to a card background. It’s a versatile technique that works for a wide range of themes. However, it requires precise cutting and thoughtful color selection to achieve its full potential.

Patterned paper offers a quick and convenient way to add character to your card backgrounds. With a diverse array of designs readily available, you can effortlessly introduce themes, colors, and styles that work with your project. While looking for examples of patterned paper backgrounds for this post, I realized that my fondness for patterned paper has endured. Of course, patterned paper may not always align perfectly with every theme you have in mind.

Additionally, patterned paper can be covered with vellum to quiet the pattern and/or make a sentiment more legible.

To conclude, I have covered background options for handmade cards from the clean simplicity of white cardstock to the variety of patterned paper. In a future post, or two, I will explore additional cardmaking background options. Of the background options I discussed, which one are you most likely to choose?

Sunny Studio Stamps | Snow One Like You

Hello! It is hard to resist a winter scene with a snowman. In this post, I am sharing two cards, both showcasing the delightful stamp set Snow One Like You from Sunny Studio Stamps. On one, I used the Lawn Fawn Say Cheese, Again Polaroid-style frame, and on the other, I used the Sunny Studio Stamps Mini Mat & Tag 3 set to create a mat for my scene. In this post, I discussed the use of frames and mats in cardmaking.

To create the background, cover an A2-size card base with patterned paper.

To create the focal image, stamp Snow One Like You with Versafine on Arches Cold Press watercolor paper and heat set. Color the image with watercoloring medium of choice. Once dry, cut the images with the coordinating die set. (Check out my “Resources for Watercoloring Stamped Images” HERE.)

Use one of the hill dies in the Slimline Nature Borders set to create the snowbank.

Cut the frame with the Lawn Fawn Say Cheese, Again frame. Add snowbank and patterned paper behind the frame, trimming as needed. Cut sentiment with the Art Impressions Journal Letter die set from white glitter foam. Adhere the letters to the frame, attach the frame assembly to the background, and add the focal image to the card with foam adhesive.

Alternatively, cut a mat with the Sunny Studio Stamps Mini Mat & Tag 3 die set. Use a rectangle die to cut the sky from patterned paper and to trim the snowbank. Add the sentiment, cut with the Art Impressions Journal Letter die set from white glitter foam, to the snowbank. Add the assembly to the card background and the focal image to the card with foam adhesive.

Below are sketches of the two designs.

Autumn Gratitude | Spellbinders Envelope of Wonder

Hello! Today, I am sharing a fall-themed, envelope-shaped card created with products from the Spellbinders Envelope of Wonder Collection. I chose unconventional colors – teal and purple – for the autumn elements.

Recently, I shared three cards created with the Envelope of Wonder Collection on the Spellbinders blog. In that post, I discussed dealing with overwhelm when working with large die sets. For this card, I followed the same formula I discussed in the guest post: identify focal items, choose the colors for those items, choose the colors of the envelope based on those elements, and fill the envelope with secondary elements.

A Guide to Die-Cut Frames in Cardmaking

Hello! Today, I am delving into the topic of die-cut frames, that is, frames that you create using dies. For cardmaking, frames offer a wide range of design possibilities. Available in various shapes, sizes, and designs, frames create windows that spotlight your chosen elements. Let’s explore this topic in more depth with examples; click on the card image to be taken to the original post.

Frame dies come in many shapes, including rectangles, squares, circles, ovals, hearts, stars, and more. The variety allows you to match the frame to the theme and style of your card. Furthermore, it is easy to create frames with basic shape die sets, such as the Everlasting Circles and Squares die sets from Spellbinders. Additionally, a number of manufacturers sell dies with multiple openings for both A2-size and slimline cards.

Polaroid-style frames not only showcase the focal image but also provide space to stamp a sentiment such as this one from My Favorite Things. I have similar dies from Penny Black, Paper Smooches, and Avery Elle in my collection. Lawn Fawn sells the Say Cheese, Again set, which I do not own but have on my wishlist.

Rectangular frame dies, such as the My Favorite Things A2 Rectangles set, (the largest die measures 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 inches on the outside), make it possible to hide die-cut edges in scene cards.

Some die-cut frames feature intricate patterns and details, adding sophistication to your cards. For example, frames can mimic lacework, filigree, or other decorative elements such as the Heartfelt Thanks die set designed by Becca Feeken for Spellbinders.

Additionally, frame die-cuts are available for different themes and seasons: you can use leafy frames for autumn-themed cards, snowflake frames for winter, and floral frames for spring. The Snow Flurries and Forest Backdrop dies from Lawn Fawn are two such examples.

Is a mat a frame? In cardmaking, both frames and mats play significant roles in the appearance and impact of your designs. However, they serve slightly different purposes and have distinct characteristics. Designed to draw attention to the focal image, sentiment, or embellishment, a frame surrounds a specific area or element on the card. On the other hand, a mat is a layer that is larger than the element it is placed behind. Mats add contrast, dimension, and visual interest to the design. (To note, mats in cardmaking are different than mats in picture framing. In picture framing, the mat serves as a component that frames and accentuates an image, providing a visual boundary between the artwork and the frame.)

Incorporating frames into your cardmaking projects adds an artistic and polished touch. I encourage you to delve into your own collection of frame dies – which are your favorites and what is on your wishlist? You might just find that reviewing your use of frames provides inspiration for future cardmaking projects!

Sunny Studio Stamps | Charming Cats and Mouse

Hello! Today I am sharing a whimsical “Hello” card featuring Sunny Studio Stamps products. I recently added the Wonderful Windows die set to my collection and wanted to use it on a card. By the way, their Holiday collection will be available to purchase on August 25. Sneak peeks are being shown on their blog this week.

In this previous post, I discussed scene building with Sunny Studio Stamps and used the Birthday Mouse as a focal point. And here, I showed the same cat images in a sailboat. For today’s card, I combined the mouse and the cats.

To begin, I dry-embossed SU Smoky Slate cardstock with a retired Tim Holtz folder to create the card background. I own several brick embossing folders; this particular one provided the most texture.

To create the mouse and cats, I stamped the Birthday Mouse and Birthday Cat images with Versafine on Arches Cold Press watercolor paper and heat set. With watercolor markers, I colored the images. (Check out my “Resources for Watercoloring Stamped Images” HERE.) Once dry, I cut the images with their coordinating die sets.

Next, to create the window and shutters, I cut white cardstock with the Wonderful Windows set. Next, I added curtains cut from SU Poppy Red cardstock. Finally, I backed the window assembly with Sea Glass cardstock.

Finally, to create the sentiment, I cut white Pop-Up Die Cutting Glitter Foam with the Journal Letter Die Set (glitter side down). I adhered the die-cut letters to a strip of Taylored Expressions Poppy Seed cardstock.