Do you ever seem to be at a loss when you receive your card kit and it has patterned paper and matching die cuts? Not sure what to do with them or how to make them look good on your card? In this article I’ll be talking about how to work with printed die cuts and patterned paper!
In today’s project I’ll be using the paper and die cuts from Gina K Designs Watercolor Floral kit contents that came out a few years ago. This is still one of my all time favorite card kits. I chose the papers I wanted to use first. I am using 2 of the papers in the collection and the coral pink piece is one that I stamped. Then I picked out what I thought I would use for die cuts.
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I did add another flower die cut. I made my base first. I wanted to stagger the layers with only a little of the pink plaid and coral paper showing. My card base is an A2 size top folding note card in white.
Only showing a little of the 2 pink patterned card stock pieces is less overwhelming, but adds color interest. Now I had to decide where and how to attach my die cuts. I first die cut a stitched circle that was 2 3/4″ out of gold colored vellum. That definitely did not look good. It was too intense in color. I next cut die cut another circle from white vellum. That just disappeared into the background. Then I took out a piece of embossed light gold metallic paper and cut a circle using the same die. It was perfect! Not too dark and not too light. I arranged my die cuts on top of it, playing with layouts to see what would look good. I chose 5 of the images above. I popped up the center flower on foam tape and adhered the other elements flat. I also cut off a piece of the side of the circle.
I really like how this looked in the lower left corner of my card. I didn’t add any embellishments to my card. I felt with the patterned paper and the die cuts there was enough going on. I also didn’t add a sentiment at this time. I could add one later if I wanted, but I really like how this looks without one!
I hope you’ll give die cuts a try along with coordinating papers. Such a pretty look can be achieved!
Betsy Birge is from Liberty, US. She has been writing for TPC since 2023. Betsy started paper crafting in 2006 and she mostly makes cards. Her style is a bit of everything and she loves watercoloring both her cards and fine art showing in local galleries.