Adding Dimension

Hi and welcome back! I am so excited that I was asked to contribute to Courtney Kreeber’s, Create and Inkspire July edtion today. Thanks so much, I am truly blessed with this opportunity!

Adding Dimension to cards can be intimidating as we see them as so many of see them as flat objects that fit inside and envelope to be mailed. I personally, have no problem sending three dimensional cards through the mail, but I know some object to it. I’m here today to share a few ways to add dimension and depth without having to add the extra postage. But , first I want to show you the final project…

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One of my favorite things to do is ink blending with Distress Oxide inks, so I started there by choosing Stormy Skies, Antique Linen, and Bundled Sage. I roughly blended them as the first layer didn’t matter if smooth or not. I then stamped my Unity/Brutus Monroe Floral Tapestry background using my Misti stamping tool and Brutus Monroe Embossing ink. Prior to stamping I did dry the background a bit with a heat tool, knowing I didn’t want the embossing powder to stick to unwanted areas. Once stamped and treated with an anti static tool, I added Ranger Ultra thick clear embossing powder and heat set it. I then added more of the same Distress Oxide inks to add dimension and depth, which is also known as an emboss resist technique. I wasn’t completely happy, and wanted a deeper feel, so I lightly blended Simon Hurley Grrr ink randomly.

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Now this beautiful butterfly from Unity Stamps Co, called Allow Yourself, just makes me so happy!! I stamped it with Memento Tuxedo Black ink onto smooth card stock, using my Misti again. I chose this ink because it is Copic friendly. For my coloring of the vibrant wing, I chose to start with a brown marker to add the illusion of the depth and dimension before blending my yellows and oranges. Even though I chose a simple color palette for the flowers, I still maintained a 3-4 marker range for each flower so that the highlights and folds would again, give more depth. I finally cut my image out with a Cut n Scan, and also vellum in the same shape. For added depth I inked the edges with Vintage Photo ink.

Copic Coloring
butterfly wing: E37, YR09,07, 04 Y 02, 06
flowers: R14, 12, 11. E37, YR09, Y06, B97,95,93,91
foliage: G99, 94, 85, YG01
I buy all of my markers from Scrapbook Pal for their fast shipping and large inventory.

The card is a standard A2 side folding base with nesting layers. I used a charcoal leather embossed paper cut to 4 x 51/4 inches and then applied the background measuring 3 7/8th in x 5 1/8th inches. I glued the vellum layer down with liquid adhesive so that it would stick permanently to the embossing. The colored butterfly then when was popped up with foam tape only in the center body and the wings were curled a bit with a bone folder to make them pop!!! The sentiment was then stamped using the Unity Stamps Co “…Trust It Will Be Okay” stamp set and die cut using MFT fishtail sentiment strips. For just a touch of sparkle, I added Diamond Stickles randomly to the image, and then a few Gina Marie Designs enamel dots.

I sure hope this inspires you to try your hand at adding dimension without adding postage. Here’s just one more secret…. mail your A2 cards in an A7 envelope that way you can have elements that hang off the sides like I did here!!!!

Thanks for joining us! And thank you Courtney, again for letting me share!

Disclosure: The links below are affiliate links. If you decide to use these links to shop, you are supporting this blog, thank you! I may receive a small portion of the sale, at no extra cost to you. These products are endorsed by me, and I hope you will love them too.

Challenges entering:
Creative Moments 193
Fab n Funky 488
The Paper Shelter 434
SSS: Bright and Cheerful
Paper Funday 19
The Card Concept
Word Art Wednesday 446/447
World Wide Open DT June Challenge
Morgan’s Artworld 7

Until next time… Keep Crafting!!!!