Happy Birthday! 1 card 3 Ways,MOJO, and a QUICK TIP!

TAKE IT TO THE LIMIT!  Taking MORE UP and OVER THE TOP!

I have a Birthday card to share with you today!  Actually, it is the same card three ways.  Each one kicked up a notch.  This card is for Julee Tilman's Birthday, owner of Verve!  Happy Birthday, Julee!   Check out the Verve blog to see all the wonderful Birthday card creations designed by the Verve Divas to Celebrate Julee's special day!

For today's cards, I am using some SU designer papers from my stash.  I am using Verve's Thankful Accents and Birthday Bash stamp sets.  I combined the stamps with Verve's Cut Above Jotted Heart and Charming Oval dies.   I am using the sketch from this week's Mojo251.  I turned it.

All three cards use the same stamps and dies.  That did not change.  Check out what I changed/added between the three.  I do want to mention that I KNOW that this first card is in no way CAS.  It is a serious layered card.  Ten layers(more if you are counting where I layer some of my die cuts for added stiffness) if you are counting all the die cuts...etc.  See...NOT CAS!   I know many of you would like to know how to add MORE to an already MORE card.  What MORE can I do to kick it up?  In the end it is a matter of preference.  Some like MORE some like EVEN MORE,  and some like OVER the TOP!     

CARD 1  I started with a scrap bin card base that was done.   This was discarded due to the sewing machine stitches that got gnarled up in the bottom right hand corner.  I sort of covered it up with the watermark, but it is still there and looks bad.  I was TRYING to recycle.  Anyway, the card base is The Paper Company kraft.  I started using this paper for my card bases over a year ago to make my cards lighter as well as less expensive.  I layered a stitched piece of the designer paper over top.  The inside panels were not stitched.  I layered several die cut frames, stamped the frame image from the Thankful Accents set, added the glittered  die cut Jotted Hearts, layered die cut sentiment, and two tiny clear gems.  All the edges were ink distressed.  All frames and dies received varying thicknesses of foam tape or dimensionals to create height and depth. 

CARD 2   I had to start with an all new card base and background piece of paper.  The messed up stitching got to me.  Again, The Paper Company kraft base.  I added a piece of cream card stock to cover front.  Then layered another piece of cream with the coral rose color designer paper background.  I, again, stitched it.  The inner pieces are the same.  They just needed to be cut down slightly since the background is now smaller due to the layering.  I stitched all three  of these panels this time.  I took the very same center element as it was and popped it on the top.  I did add a seam binding bow with a star burst sparkle in center.  I am amazed at how differently these two cards look with no more changes than added layered background, stitching, and bow.

CARD 3 To put it nicely,this card is OVER THE TOP!  Technically, I only did a couple of things to this card to take it from card 2 status to card 3 status.  I removed the large decorative frame from behind the center piece and added an ivory accordion fold jumbo medallion.  Foam tape was use for securing pieces as well as adding dimension.  I also wanted more elements of sparkle so two crystal stick pins were added for drama. That is it!  


When working with making MORE cards MORE, it is important to always consider colors and patterns.  I could have gone with a bold pattern on the medallion, but I really thought that would have been too much.  For this card, I chose to add another ink distressed cream element.  I believe I still have impact just not too busy.

QUICK TIP!  Sewing Machine stitching.  I love to stitch either a basic stitch or zig zag stitch to my cards.  It saves me on adhesives plus adds a decorative touch.   Something I did to make my crafting easier for me is to write using a sharpie(I used green so it would show up) directly to my machine the numbers I needed for either the zig zag or regular stitch for distance and width.   I can vary these, but when crafting and in a crunch, I do not have time to think between stitches which width I know works.  These numbers are my basics and lifeline.  Just see it, set it, and stitch it!  Hope that helps.  I believe nail polish remover will wipe off the sharpie ink.  Just be sure not to touch machine writing as it may remove that too.  I just leave mine up there as is.  I think it has been like this for over two years.   Thought I'd share!  Hope this quick tip was helpful!

Let me know which card is your favorite of the three and why!  Also, would you like to see more  TAKE IT TO THE LIMIT posts like this?

Don't forget to check out the Verve blog to see all the wonderful Birthday card creations designed by the Verve Divas!

As always thanks so much for stopping by!

Betty

Playing along with a few challenges.

Make it Monday: always Anything Goes 

Inspire Me Fridays: Anything Goes

Hiding in My Craft Room:  Layers 

Crafty Bloggers Network: Anything Goes

Simon Says Stamp and Show: Hey Girl

Simply Create Too: Two or More of Something (3 cards or two hearts)

Supplies

Stamps Verve's Thankful Accents and Birthday Bash sets

Paper SU dp, PTI vintage cream, The Paper Company kraft

Ink Ranger Brushed Corduroy, PTI Berry Sorbet

Accessories Sewing Machine, MFT die-namics, seam binding, foam tape, dimensionals,  clear star burst, stick pins, clear gems, Spellbinder's  die, Verve's Cut Above Jotted Heart and Charming Oval dies.