winnie & walter :: february leading lady, part 3 :: a trio of "simple" cards

Hi, friends!  I have to say that Winnie & Walter maybe have the best fan following in the paper crafting business.  You guys are awesome!  Thank you again for all the love and kind words you have left for me.  I love being able to create but when I hear that I've inspired you or that you get where I'm coming from, that, in turn, inspires me.  Your comments are truly appreciated and taken to heart.

**Be sure you read all the way through as I'm hosting a giveaway over the next 2 weeks!  Keep scrolling for all the details :)**


I actually had a different project in mind for this week than the one I'm sharing here today, but life got a little out of control last week and, as my deadline for submitting this post was approaching, I realized there was no way I'd be able to complete it on time AND be thorough in my photos and written content.  The good news is, you'll still get to see it as my finale next week!

So without my planned project, I was facing a nerve-wracking dilemma.  What can I come up with in 24 hours to share this week?!  Remember, I'm not a super-fantastic-amazing-mindblowing stamper...but I do really love to make cards and I do have other awesome Winnie & Walter products at my fingertips--like Cutaways!  And after a somewhat panicky brainstorming session, I had a few ideas for some quick and simple cards.


The first one I made was the simplest, and it inspired the two that followed.  I have acquired a W&W product collection that would make most people drool and I set out to use as many different sets as I could, while still keeping the feel of each canvas clean and easy.  A thank you card is always useful, I thought, eyeing the bold brushed style of the From the Bottom of My Heart stamp set.  So I started by die cutting some leaf stems with the Framed with Evelin T Designs in different papers.  All the papers seen here are from Pinkfresh Studio's gorgeous Indigo Hills line.


I clustered 3 of them together and added a tiny glitter heart at the bottom.  There's always a careful laying-out process to all of my projects, and this card trio was no different.  I was about to stamp RIGHT ON THE CARD, which is always an anxiety-ridden task because what if I mess up?!  It's right there on the card!  So planning for these kinds of things is a must, and honestly, while each of these cards maybe took 10 minutes to put together, the concept and layout of each one probably took over an hour!  (So when I say quick and easy, I really mean: these are quick and easy after the whole design and layout finally came together :)


I carefully stamped "thanks" on the card, emitting a huge sigh of relief when I lifted the stamp and found a complete image, sans smears and weird discoloration.  Then I stitched on a strip of lace with some gold thread, adhered the leaf cuts, and added a few sequins.  See?  Quick, easy, simple...after all of the mind-changing and anxious hemming and hawing over the actual design of the card!  But surely we've all been there, right?!


My second card was a a bit less agonizing as I was using a much smaller stamp this time and it isn't one of the main focal points.  I wanted to be sure I got to use the In a Word: Precious Script die at least once during my Leading Lady tenure because it's gorgeous.  I had the idea to cut the word out of floral paper and pair it with the phrase "You are."  "You are my" is one of the sentiments from the Sentimental: Endearments set so I masked off the my.  It worked, yay!


I decided to take the small flag die from the Essentials: Lana Cutaways and create a little bunting (who can resist buntings?!) to accompany my statement.  A little bit of lace underneath, because precious and lace go together like milk and cookies.  When I adhered the flags for the bunting, I didn't glue down the entire piece, leaving the bottoms raised and even curling them up a bit with my fingers for some extra dimension.


Just for a little interest, I stitched a few doily scraps along the bottom edge of the card.  It adds another kind of texture without making the card too busy.


I had a different idea for my last card, but when that wasn't really working so well, I scrapped the original idea and decided to use a few less elements, which actually made me like the card a lot better when it was all done.  I was going to do another bunting-type card, but with a different die.  In my mind I pictured a drapey sort of look with scalloped lace, a banner-type stamp, and this other bunting, however, the scale of the card was much too small to achieve this and it ended up just looking way too chaotic.  I got rid of the DIY bunting and just went with the lace and the stamp, which is from the New Release set of Scenery: Stripes 2 and I curved it when I placed it on the acrylic block to make it look like a party banner.  I like the simplified look much better.


Again here, though, I had to stamp directly onto the card--TWICE!--and let out a huge sigh of release when it worked again!  This time, I used the new 'sweet' cutaway from The Big, the Bold, and Baby and paired it with 'heart' stamped in pink.  I stitched pale pink tulle to the bottom edge this time, added another doily remnant and glitter heart.  (*Those hearts are pieces I've cut over and over again because they're the perfect finishing touch item to almost everything.  The last time I needed one, I went ahead and cut 20 just to have at the ready!)


While my original bunting idea was unsuccessful, I still felt as though this card needed a little something more so I tested out a glitter bow (another item I cut and assemble in bulk) and it was perfect!  It's such a cute card for a baby or little girl, don't you think?


Well, hopefully the cards don't look too thrown together in haste (because, remember, the concepts took me quite awhile :).  I'm actually pretty pleased with them and feel they are definitely MY signature style.  I'm really looking forward to sharing my LL finale with you next week, though.  I hope it's fun for everyone!

**Until then, I've got a Winnie & Walter Giveaway happening this week and next!  I'm sure you could all use a $30 gift card to the W&W shop, right?  Simply leave me a comment here telling me your favorite go-to technique or product when you're in need of a quick project.  (Mine are generally textures and layers.)  The giveaway will run next week, as well; there might be a different question but all comments for this blog post and next Saturday's W&W LL Part 4 post will be eligible to win.  I'll announce the winner on Tuesday, February 28.


Have a fantastic weekend!
~Rebecca xo

Comments

  1. Wow! These are Awesome! More gold....YES! Loving the DP you used....great colors in these cards ♥

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  2. WOW!! These are so beautiful!! I am loving how you used all the dies on your cards!!

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  3. You are the most incredible Leading Lady, Rebecca! I'm totally enthralled by today's post & you've inspired me!

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  4. These are gorgeous! I really like layered stamping as my go to technique, so easy!

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  5. I love each of your lovely cards. You have such an elegant way of designing that is just stunning. Love love love the colors you used...the blue and white are so crisp and fresh and the pink and gold accents are so very pretty. I am in awe of your photography, too! Fabulous. Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful work with us.
    <3 J

    jwoolbright at gmail dot com
    HerPeacefulGarden.blogspot.com

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    1. Forgot to mention my go-to technique. I am a background technique person and always have a lot of extras on hand that are double-embossed or whatever technique has recently grabbed me. For a quick card, I grab one of them and slap on a lovely sentiment. The richly decorated background carries the show. Thanks for the chance to win!
      <3 J

      jwoolbright at gmail dot com
      HerPeacefulGarden.blogspot.com

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  6. Beautiful cards! Love all the Cutaways you used! Great colors and patterns! Can't wait to see your next post with your finale project!

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  7. Beautiful cards! My go to technique for a quick card is die cutting a sentiment a few times and stacking them and ink blending or watercoloring and spot background. CAS cards can be so beautiful!

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  8. Rebecca!!! You've used my [current] favorite paper pack, and I cannot wait to borrow some of your fabulous ideas, treats, and tricks!!! Gorgeous LL I telling you!!! xx [Thanks for your visits on IG, by the way! mfergu01]
    =]

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  9. Such a fun and detailed post! I love the cards you've created, they look very sweet and the cutaways look gorgeous. It does take time to think of layouts and decide what to do. I find that a stamping tool like the misti helps a lot with the anxiety of stamping. Stamping directly on a project makes me nervous too! Thanks for sharing. Loved your work :) my favourite technique is to do ink blending with distress inks and perhaps use a stencil for added interest :) it gives me nice results quickly.
    Cheers
    preety

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  10. Your cards are beautiful even if you were short on time. I like the touch of gold on each.
    slrdowney at hotmail dot com

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  12. These beautiful cards don't look at all like a quick project, with the gorgeous blue,white and gold combo and all your details. My favorite go-to technique for quick and easy cards is die cutting and embossing folders. Added texture with embossing always gives a nice extra, and layered die-cuts add fun.
    kladd94803 at aol dot com

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  13. Your cards are all absolutely lovely, Rebecca. A wonderful job on them!
    I always go for ANYTHING embossed for a quick card. That with some ribbon & bling and your done in a jiffy!

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  14. These are all so pretty! Love your touch with the blue and lace!

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  15. Congratulations! You came up with three alternate projects on the fly. So feminine and pretty!

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  16. When I need a quick card I usually go to a di cut sentiment and patterned paper.

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  17. Lovely cards! Love the paper you've used and how you've used gold as a highlight. I love to use watercolour over embossed images.

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  18. These are just beautiful! I love the papers and the sparkle and different surfaces.

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  19. Love all the different
    goodies you used on your
    cards. All are lovely!
    Carla from Utah

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  20. I'm so glad I discovered you through the W&W blog, your pictures are always so pretty and cards so inspiring. I actually mentioned you in an interview with a Singaporean craft group, citing you as one of my favourite bloggers! You can see it here: http://craftysingapore.com/2017/02/18/featured-crafter-handmade-by-gwendolyn/ . I love these CAS die cut cards you have made. My quick go to card would be spinner cards! They're so quick and easy to make.

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  21. Beautiful cards!!! Love all the details and the amazing colors!!!

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  22. Such pretty projects. My go to technique would have to be embossing and distressing. I love how they produce amazing results:)

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    1. Hi Dee! I just wanted to let you know that you are the winner of the Winnie & Walter gift card. I posted last month, but I'm guessing you hadn't seen it. Can you send me your email so I can forward to W&W and they can send you your prize info? ( email: thurstonpostblog{at}gmail.com ) Congratulations! -Rebecca

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  23. Very pretty how you used the different patterned paper and the gold accents.

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  24. Gorgeous cards and fab photos, love the use of patterned paper.

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  25. Rebecca, you have the most perfect and beautiful way of combining products! Your quick deadline surely didn't hinder your creativity or presentation. They're all just lovely!

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  26. Beautiful Cards! I love the soft lace paired with the gold and the gorgeous Indigo Blue papers (favorite). Great Inspiration!

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i do appreciate your comment!
~Rebecca