There are so many wonderful card ideas that we can all find on blogs, Pinterest, Facebook, and in catalogs and magazine.  It is refreshing that crafters are very generous in sharing ideas and personal tips and tricks.  When I CASE a card, I really try to add my own twist to make sure that I am not making a true copy.  The card below is a blending of several ideas that I found from many sources.  It also includes some personal touches and experiments that were fun to try.  Here is the card:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A good friend of mine showed me a braided card that she made recently and pointed me to a template that is available on-line.  The template can be found by going to Brandy Cox’s tutorial for a braided card.  You’ll be able to download the template from this page.  Thank you, Brandy, for sharing such a wonderful technique and template!

Below are directions for making the card:

1. Create a white cardstock card base cut to 8 1/2″ x 5 1/2″, scored at 4 1/4″ on the 8 1/2″ side.
2. Use the template, referenced above, to cut the folded edge of the card.  Make sure that you don’t cut too close to the top or bottom of the card.  Brandy’s tutorial goes through the step-by-step process to make the braid after the card edge is cut.
3. Add a sentiment of your choice to the bottom right of the card front.  Use an ink color that corresponds with your background framed cardstock.  In the picture, I used the “You are so kind” stamp from the Watercolor Wings set.  I really like the font from this set and think it helps highlight the whimsical theme of the card.  The sentiment is stamped with Emerald Envy ink, one of my new favorites.
4. Emboss a piece of white cardstock, cut to 2 ½” x 4” with the floral image in the Floral Affections embossing folder duo.
5. Use markers, in your choice of colors, to highlight the embossed image.  The markers from the two sets of in-colors really worked well for me.  The effect is similar to needlework.  It is even prettier in person.
6. Add some sparkle in the middle of the leaves and flowers with a Wink of Stella pen.  Be sure to let the ink on the embossed image dry completely before you use the Wink of Stella pen.  If you don’t wait, you may get some bleeding of your colors in the areas that you want to sparkle.
7. Use dimensionals to adhere the embossed, colored piece to a dark cardstock cut to 2 ¾” x 4 ¼”.  Emerald Envy is used in the pictured card.
8. Adhere the dark colored cardstock to a lighter corresponding color cardstock, cut to 3” x 4 ½”.  Mint Macaron is the color for the lighter green in the example.
9. Use dimensionals to adhere the lighter color cardstock to the card front.
10. To cover the ends of the braid, tie bows on the front of the card, as pictured.
11. This card also looks very elegant without any color on the embossed image.  It is a great, versatile style to have in your arsenal of quick cards.

The products I used to make the pictured card are shown below.  If you click on any image, you’ll be taken to my on-line store.

Happy Stamping!
Laurie

Products Used to Make the Card:

Whisper White 8-1/2″ X 11″ Card Stock [100730] $9.00	Emerald Envy 8-1/2″ X 11″ Cardstock [141415] $8.00	Mint Macaron 8-1/2″ X 11″ Cardstock [138337] $8.00
Watercolor Wings Photopolymer Stamp Set [139424] $26.00	Emerald Envy Classic Stampin’ Pad [141396] $6.50	Floral Affection Textured Impressions Embossing Folder [141713] $9.00
2015-2017 In Color Stampin’ Write Markers [138333] $15.00	2016-2018 In Color Stampin’ Write Markers [141393] $15.00	Stampin’ Dimensionals [104430] $4.00