"Hello Friend" Textured Card Design

I'm supposed to attend a dance practice with my high school batch mates for a Sapphire Homecoming next year. Unfortunately, my Mom is having an anxiety attack and I have to keep her company. But let me turn this situation around and post my first card making tutorial!

This is the finished card I made today. I used:

- Kaisercraft "heart" stamp and die set for the focal image

- Kaisercraft "lattice" embossing folder for texture

- Concord & 9th "banners & blooms" stamp set for the sentiment

- Altenew and Copic alcohol markers for coloring the main image and the ribbon

- Bevania Splendorgel 300 gsm for: (a) the cardstock, cut 4.25 x 11 inches and scored at 5.5 inches horizontally; (b) and for the top cover, cut 4.25 x 5.5 inches

Inks I used:

- Memento "tuxedo black" stamp pad for the heart stamp

- Versafine Clair "nocturne" stamp pad for the sentiment

- Altenew "puffy heart" crisp dye ink cube for blending the pinkish color background

For die cutting:

- Gemini die cutting machine

1. I stamped the heart image on a cardstock using a MISTI stamping tool and Memento tuxedo black ink (this type of ink does not smear when coloring with alcohol markers). I used Altenew and Copic alcohol markers for coloring. Using the coordinating die, I used a Gemini die cutting machine to cut the colored heart image.

2. For the sentiment, I stamped one of the banners and the "hello friend" sentiment in the "banners & bloom" set, then fussy cut the image. To highlight the banner, I blended Altenew "puffy heart" ink pad on the edge of the banner, then applied the same shade of Altenew alcohol marker on the banner edges for a shadow effect.

3. For the cover of the card, I chose between a plain white surface or a textured surface, with a pale blend of "puffy heart" ink, to highlight the colored heart image. I opted a hybrid ny partially dry embossing a 4.25 x 5.5 inches white cardstock using the "lattice" embossing folder. I used the Gemini machine again for this technique.

4. Now, here's a tip I learned from ginakdesigns (If you want to know more, the link will direct you to her youtube where she featured this technique; ribbon coloring starts at 1:45 min). I colored my light beige ribbon with alcohol marker to coordinate with the card color scheme. You don't have to buy tons of colored ribbons anymore!

I also used alcohol marker to color the rhinestone embellishment for the flowers.

5. Using a double sided adhesive tape, I placed the ribbon on the embossed cardstock to transition the smooth portion to the textured surface. (Note that I changed the color of the ribbon later on. I found R335 too strong. I used Altenew R302 instead.)

I also used a double adhesive tape to adhere a white fun foam on the back of the heart image for layering.

6. Here's the assembled card with the materials I used for stamping, inking, and coloring.

I hope you were inspired and enjoyed my first card tutorial. Happy crafting!