The E-Team is very excited to host a final birthday bash to celebrate Operation Write Home.
THE CARD & STAMPS
Here's my card for this birthday bash. Knowing I wanted to make multiple cards in one sitting, I went for plain white cardstock and decided to use one ink color. I needed simple and did not want to spend time coloring. I chose this outline Unity stamp design because it felt like the right one to use. I had to remember that I was making cards to send to our military overseas so that they would have a card to send back home to their loved ones. Can't you just picture a soldier using this card to write to his/her sweetheart? Instead of using colored cardstock or designer paper for a mat, I reached for a Hero Arts large cling mount stamp. The Hero Arts large cling mount stamps cover an entire A2 size cardfront. I chose a design that would go with the single Unity design and knew it would look good with one color.
IT'S ALL ABOUT THE RIGHT TOOLS
Having the right tools really does make a difference in being able to accomplish the task. The new Fiskars 9" trimmer is really made for cardmakers. It has a wire cut line to help guide you. I simply cut my cardstock in half so I could get two cards per 1 sheet of 8-1/2 x 11 cardstock.
The Scor-Buddy if the perfect size for cardmakers, too, and oh so cute. There are notches to help you with folds and also comes with it's bone folder which makes for perfect creases.
When inking up a large surface like the front of an entire card front, the best way I have found to do so is to ink the stamp, then place your cardstock on top of the stamp. Laying a piece of scrap paper on top of the cardstock will help prevent any smudges. Another big tip I've learned, use a brayer to get an even stamped image.
Next I reached for my Fiskars Stamp Press. It really helps you get that even stamped image. Two of its best features, 1) there are gridlines and 2) It has 4 corners sponged feet you can actually lay it over your cardstock to help figure out where to stamp your image....and press to stamp.
Another tip I have learned is to use specific Copic Colors for helping to "ground" your image...so it's not just floating.
Just to add some dimension without adding bulk, I reached for my Craft Pick and Tim Holtz Ruler. The paper piercing echoed the Magical Background Hero Arts stamp( this background stamp can be so versatile).
Having the right tools can really help with it comes to creating and assembling cards in mass production mode. I did add some red for some color. Some ribbon attached with mini staples from the Tiny Attacher and it was a simple card, easy to duplicate for multiples, and one that I am sending off to Operation Write Home.
Please join The E-Team in creating and sending cards to Operation Write Home. You can read about the Operation Write Home guidelines HERE.
The E-Team
Leave a comment here and you can win the Hero Arts Magical Background stamp plus some extra Hero Arts ribbons.
Happy Birthday, Operation Write Home!
-Daisy
"feed your creativity" at www.eclecticpaperie.com