A Way With Words

Say It with Flowers Congratulations Card

September 24, 2015

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By Judi Kauffman

A dear friend called this morning with big news: She was heading home from the bank where she had just made the final payment on her mortgage! The timing could not have been more perfect. I had just put the finishing touches on the Say It with Flowers Congratulations Card and now have a recipient for it.

There are so many times when a congratulatory card is appropriate: Graduations and other major milestones come to mind, but other accomplishments like surviving a root canal or learning to spackle a wall or make strudel deserve celebrating, too.

Instead of the usual step-by-step instructions I’m going to outline my design strategies, offer a bunch of options, and trust that each of you can make your own version, inspired by the photos and ideas.

So that I could end up with a 5” x 7” card that looks like almost the entire front is covered with embossed Shimmer Sheetz I employed one of my favorite tricks – creating an optical illusion so that something looks bigger than it is. I started with a piece of Turquoise Gemstone Shimmer Sheetz measuring only 4” x 5” (a third of a 5” x 12” sheet, or one piece from a Sampler Pack) and after it was alcohol ink-altered, embossed, and lightly sanded I cut it into two pieces (3” tall x 4” wide, 2” tall x 4” wide). The band with the word Congratulations does not cover any Shimmer Sheetz, it just looks like it does.

There is no rule that says you always have to COVER a background layer, it’s not cheating to create an illusion.

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The Curvy Leaves embossing folder provides a perfect background for small flowers. With the leaves pointing upward the flowers appear to be growing from the stems. Use any Bunch of Flowers dies you want, or pick some of the smaller dies from Flower Sets.

Each flower has two layers. Tiny pieces cut from Power Tabs hold the layers together and hold the flowers to the card front. The bottom flower is flat against the card front but the petals on the second one, the top layer, are bent upward for dimension. (Use nonstick scissors to cut the Power Tabs.)

Instead of my usual go-to Glitter Dots for the flower centers I used Lure Eyes for a bit of added dimension. This is another illusion. We don’t see it as an “eye” when it’s in the middle of a flower we only perceive the Lure Eyes as shiny round shapes.

I used tiny slivers of Tombow Power Adhesive Tabs to add dimension beneath the word Congratulations. (Use nonstick scissors to cut the Power Tabs.)

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To customize the card:

*Change the color combination

*Skip the alcohol inks, simply emboss and lightly sand the Shimmer Sheetz

*Use more flowers or fewer, larger or smaller ones

*Go for Glitter Dots Peel-offs (7018) instead of Lure Eyes for flower centers

*Mix in more patterned papers or use only solid color cardstock

*Add a die cut leaf or two next to each flower

*Distress the edges of the cardstock with ink

*Substitute a stamped sentiment for the die cut

*For a word that is flat against the card front instead of dimensional back the cardstock with Clear Double Sided Adhesive Sheet before die cutting

*Instead of a side fold card base make it a flat card to display on a die cut Card Stand/Easel

*Switch to a different sentiment and adjust the dimensions of the card as needed

*Instead of a sentiment add a small calendar pad, a printout of a favorite poem, a photo or handwritten message block and adjust the dimensions of the card as needed

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Supplies:

Elizabeth Craft Designs –

1051 Quietfire Congratulations die

E105 Curvy Leaves embossing folder

728 Bunch of Flowers 1 die set and/or Flower Set dies of choice

(any 2 or more small flower dies)

SS0217 Turquoise Gemstone Shimmer Sheetz (or color of choice)

Clear Double Sided Adhesive Tape (width of choice)

Other –

Solid color cardstock in colors of choice (Shown: Peach, Wine Red, Metallic Green)

Patterned paper of choice (Shown: BoBunny Enchanted Harvest)

Alcohol inks in colors of choice (Shown: Yellow, Raisin, Magenta)

Sanding block

5mm Lure Eyes in Gray (from Stanislaus Imports, lasioux.com)

Tombow Power Adhesive Tabs (Optional, to add dimension beneath sentiment)

Nonstick scissors (If using Power Tabs)

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  • Bibi, Rubber Dance Stamps September 27, 2015 at 11:03 pm

    Gorgeous!!! The colours are just amazing (and even more so in person, I’m sure!).
    The Curvy Leaves embossing folder is one of my absolute favourites and I’ve used it a LOT! I usually have the other side up (where the leaves make the relief), but I love the fact that both sides are really pretty.

  • Mary Prasad September 25, 2015 at 12:59 pm

    So beautiful! Love all the colors!

    • judi kauffman September 25, 2015 at 2:04 pm

      Thanks, Mary. It’s a happy color combination, that’s for sure.

  • Eunice Hamilton September 24, 2015 at 11:43 am

    Beautiful just Beautiful! !!!!!!!

    • judi kauffman September 24, 2015 at 3:30 pm

      I appreciate your comment, Eunice. Thank you for taking time to post such kind words.

  • Wanda Hentges September 24, 2015 at 10:29 am

    Gorgeous card, Judy!!!!!

    • judi kauffman September 24, 2015 at 3:30 pm

      Thanks, Wanda. It was fun to make!

  • Holly Young September 24, 2015 at 9:09 am

    That shimmer sheetz background is gorgeous. I love how you sanded the embossed areas – it almost looks like a die cut piece of acetate is laid over the alcohol inked background. I also really like your different use for the lure eyes. Your card looks fantastic, and I’m sure your friend will be tickled to get it!

    • judi kauffman September 24, 2015 at 3:29 pm

      thanks, Holly – what the photos don’t show is the way the core color of the Turquoise Gemstone SS looks (Silvery, a soft metallic glow)

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