Hey guys,
Long post alert! :)
I'm so excited to share all these cards I've made with the wonderful new Destination Japan collection by Lene Lok for Spellbinders! I had the huge honor of creating these samples for the product packagings last year - so when you buy the dies, some of them will have these cards on them! How cool is that?! It makes me so happy and maybe a little bit proud too :)
I adore this collection. Every single die set. I think, to date, these are my favorite card sets I've ever made. I love the way each card works so well together within a set, due to the coordinating colors and theme.
I've made two sets, one is more modern, the other is more traditional - color wise I mean! First up the modern set!
I chose a pink-gray-white color scheme with red accents. I've used patterned paper scraps from various companies.
On the first card, I've used the Shapeabilities Zen Garden Welcome Etched Dies set. I placed the window die in the middle of an A2 size patterned paper panel and die cut it. I created my A2 size top folding card base (all my cards are top fold in this post), added a pink patterned paper on top. I popped up the window panel with foam adhesive. You could make great shaker cards with this panel actually! Anyway, I decided to do something else. I die cut a bunch of flowers using the Shapeabilities Sakura Blossoms Etched Dies set and placed them in the opening/behind the window. I gold embossed a sentiment on a white strip of paper and glued it in the opening too, so it's kind of floating. To create the lantern, I die cut the shapes multiple times, ones from patterned papers and a couple more times from white card stock. I did this so I have a sturdier and more dimensional piece. I glued the layers together and assembled the lantern. I added gold vellum behind the shape. I tied white twine at the top of the lantern and glued it onto my card front as if it were hanging.
For my second card I've used the Shapeabilities Sakura Blossoms Etched Dies set. Ahhh those flowers! I love them! I glued a gray/white plaid patterned paper on my card base. I die cut the floral panel from white card stock and glued it down. I then die cut lots of flowers and leaves from a variety of patterned papers and assembled them. I added pink crystals to their middles. Before adhering them to the card front, I stamped my sentiment in gray ink.
Next up, the Shapeabilities Pagoda Card Etched die set! This one is such a fun set, you can make shaped cards with it like I did here. But of course you can also just add the Pagoda to a standard card base if that's more your thing. I rarely make anything other than standard cards so I was really excited about making a shaped card! Isn't it cute?! I cut the front from 5 different papers and pieced them together like a puzzle. While this is time consuming, I always love the results! To finish off this card, I added a flower and a gold embossed sentiment.
My next card features the Die D-Lites Origami Etched Crane set. Don't you just love origami cranes? I know I do. The meaning behind it as well, as the Japanese refer to the crane as the bird of happiness. Did you know it was believed if one folds 1000 origami cranes, their wish would come true?
Anyway, I die cut a circle from my card front, then die cut another circle from pink patterned paper. I also die cut a smaller circle from gray plaid paper and layered these up. You can of course omit the first step, I just like the indent the die makes in the paper and love the look of paper piecing. I added two strips of patterned papers at the bottom as well as some red twine. I die cut the crane from two papers and pieced them together on a heavy weight card stock - then fussy cut out the crane shape. I popped it up on foam dots in the middle of the circle. To finish off this card, I added some enamel dots.
On my next card I've used the beautiful Shapeabilities Waves Etched Die. I die cut the panel from white, pink and gray car stock plus pink patterned paper. I adhered the white one to my card base, then pieced the other colors back into their designated slots. I know these colors have nothing to do with waves but I never really cared about being realistic on cards. I love playing with colors most of all. Once done, I embossed my sentiment with gold embossing powder on a white paper strip and popped it up on the background. To finish it off, I added gray twine.
Here comes another favorite from this collection! While the Die D-Lites Kimono etched die set is technically not for creating shaped cards, I was so in love with the Pagoda card, I decided to try to create one anyway. Now, I made these cards last year so I don't quite remember what I did, but looking at the die, I think I probably die cut the kimono, then using it as a template, I drew around the shape, turned it around, lined up the top with the previous outline, then cut out the shape with scissors. I then scored it in the middle and my top folding, kimono shaped card base was ready! I then die cut the kimono from various papers and pieced it all back in place. Added some twine and a gold embossed sentiment, done!
Now we come to the second set of cards I made, these use more traditional colors. I actually had an old Basic Grey paper pad, called Konnichiwa, and the colors and designs were just perfect I think.
For these two cards I die cut lots of origami cranes from several patterned papers as well as white card stock, then did paper piecing. I prepared my card bases, one has a patterned paper panel attached to it, the other an embossed white panel. The embossing folder I used is another favorite product of mine which I use over and over: Love Stripes.
I gold embossed my sentiment on a white paper strip and adhered it down at the bottom of my card. I then added two cranes equally spaced out, using foam adhesive, to create a dimensional design. I splattered some gold ink all over the card front, added enamel dots and twine.
On the second card I created sort of like a background pattern with my die cuts. I trimmed them off on the sides, added gold ink splatters, my sentiment, crystals and twine.
More kimonos! As you see, I kept these really simple, I just played with some patterned papers on the background and paper piecing on the kimonos. Gold embossed sentiments, some crystals, twine, done.
This gorgeous floral paper I used for my background here is actually my favorite from that paper collection!
Up next are cards with the Sakura Blossom and Waves die sets.
This time I decided to make a shaker card. I added a patterned paper panel to my card base. I die cut the waves from white card stock as well as blue patterned paper. I adhered the die cut panel to acetate and cut it out. Here I suggest you use double sided adhesive sheets that you adhere to your white card stock then die cut your shape from it, because it's easier and quicker. I am almost certain that I glued this panel on top of another card stock, but only up to the point where I have the paper pieced design. I never found liquid adhesive that works on acetate so I must have added paper to the back to be able to piece the die cut shapes back in place. Then I added two layers of foam tape to the back and the wider sides of the panel. I placed some light blue gems and clear droplets on my card front and glued down the die cut panel. To finish off this card, I added gold ink splatters, a sentiment and some twine.
For my floral card, I did the exact same thing as before, only the placement of the white panel and the sentiment is different. Which colorway do you prefer? I can never pick favorites!
Last but not least, I have a couple of cards with the Pagoda and the Zen Garden Welcome die sets.
This time I also used the outline die to cut out the window, I felt like my background would have been too dark and sad otherwise. I backed this panel with a cheery lime green patterned paper which I thought was perfect; flowers, trees, birds, totally something you could see in a zen garden no? :) Using foam adhesive, I attached this panel to my embossed card base. I added a lantern that I created the exact same way as described earlier.
My pagoda shaped card is the same as the previous one, I just used different papers obviously. Oh and no flower this time!
That's it! I know this was a long post but I hope I could inspire you with my projects in some way!
Thank you so much for stopping by today! Until next time!
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