Handmade cards do not always require a large amount of time and/or skill. Sometimes, simple is better. Today’s card is a great example – pairing die cuts and a simple stamp to complete.
Tools
Cardstock – Gina K cardstock in: Cherry Red, Honey Mustard, Fresh Asparagus and Kraft.
Dies – Leaf dies by Sizzix
Copic Markers – E74, R27, YR23, YG03
Die Cutting
I utilized cardstock scraps for my die cutting. All three colors came from the Gina K Autumn Rainbow cardstock collection, available exclusively at Simon Says Stamp. I have been loving these colors – and definitely getting my use out of them.
I die cut a bunch of leaves, definitely more than I needed. I’ll just put the rest in a snack size Ziplock back and toss them into my scrap die cut box for future use.
Coloring
To add a little pizazz to the die cuts, add some quick detailing with a marker slightly darker than your paper. I did not spend much time on this. At all. Essentially, I scribbled a quick outline and a few marks within each leaf. This little bit of added details brings a bit more depth to your otherwise basic die cuts.
Arrangement
After playing around with a few different ideas on arrangement, I settled on a simple maple leaf layout. I adhered each leaf with Gina K Connect Glue, leaving the bottom corner open for a stamped sentiment.
Stamping
To finish off the card, I stamped my sentiment using Simon Says Stamp Sparrow ink.
This simplicity of this card is offset by the quick details added to the die cut leaves. It just goes to show how one easy addition can make a vast improvement on the end result.
What is your go-to technique for amping up the wow factor on a basic card?
