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Soft Shabby Chic Birthday Card
- Mixing Textures & Embellishments -

Adding various textures and embellishments is an essential part of a shabby chic design. All the different elements contribute to the dimension of the card and there is almost no limit as too how much you can add to it. Today I'm sharing a birthday card and a few tips and tricks I follow when creating a mixed media card like this.




Main Supplies
Die Cuts - Spellbinders: Elegant Ovals, Classic Ovals Small, A2 Scalloped Borders One, A2 Valiant Honor / Our Daily Bread Designs: Angel Wings, Fancy Foliage
Stamps - Graciellie Design: Sending Blessings Digital Stamp Set
Paper - Our Daily Bread Designs: Shabby Rose Collection
Ranger: Dried Marigold re-inker, Mini Mister, Blending Tool, Old Paper Distress Ink, Spun Sugar Distress Ink, Idea-ology Crinkle Ribbon
Dreamweaver Pearlescent Embossing Paste
SU Rhinestones
Miscelaneous - Resin heart, wood bird embellishment, pearl flower stamens, 2" white lace, 6/8" iridiscent lace, tulle, white acrylic paint, brush, Leather textured cardstock in white and beige.


Tips on creating Shabby Chic projects:
1. Embossing - Texture or embossing paste looks great on a background, and one great tip is you can DIY your own texture paste using baby powder, white glue and white acrylic paint.
2. Stenciling - As for stencils, you can find affordable stencils everywhere. On this card I actually used a very inexpensive stencil I found on a hardware store. 
3. Distress - Another technique you can try out to add texture is to tear, fold or roll your front card layer just as I did here around the edges, and I even tucked a piece of lace underneath.
4. Ribbons & Lace - Add a lot of crinkle ribbon, lace, tulle, gauze or other similar textures, which will give the design the shabby chic look you're looking for.
5. Embellishments - These are important too, from pearls to wood elements, flower stamens, rhinestones, buttons, die cuts and even resin or clay pieces, almost anything goes with layered shabby chic cards. I learned to make my own resin and clay embellishments using homemade molds. You can try out making your own molds using pieces you already have at home and Easy Mold Silicon Putty. You don't neccesarily need to make the embellishments out of resin, you can also make them from Air Dry Clay which is faster and easier!
6. Splashes of paint and ink - From sprayed cardstock to droplets of ink, this gives the card the final aged look and it also adds depth to the design. You can create your own ink spray by mixing a bit of re-inker with water. You can also use inexpensive white acrylic paint to add a white patina effect to the embellishments (just like I did with the pink resin heart).
I hope today's card and post are helpful to you. Remember each of our creative journeys is different, so don't feel pressure on using elaborate and/or expensive elements on your cards. Look for things you already have in your stash and play with them to layer your projects!

To check out this and other new stamp sets click here.


Thanks for stopping by.

Sharing with: SSS Monday Challenge - Spritz and Spray / Mod Squad Challenge - Hearts and Flowers / Craft-Dee Bowz - February Challenge / Frilly and Funkie - Enjoy your Embossing / Double D Challenges - Pretty Pink Hearts / SSS Wednesday Challenge - Have a Heart / Great Impressions - Let's Celebrate / Pile it On - Homemade Embellishments / Card n Scrap - Sketch /

Comments

  1. This is stunning, Gracie!! The layers and design are so fabulous!! I love the colors!! The details are perfect!! Have a great day!! Big hugs :)

    Lisa
    A Mermaid's Crafts

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  2. I am blown away by this card. Such detail and beauty. Thud! Good luck, and thanks for joining in the challenge at the Mod Squad this week.
    Barbara, Mod Squad Challenge host

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  3. Sooooo gorgeous, Gracie! Love the embossing paste texture in the background and all the gorgeous layers. You make every detail absolute perfection! Thanks for sharing with us at Frilly & Funkie "Enjoy your Embossing" Challenge!

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  4. Absolutely gorgeous!! Stunning and beautiful details! Thank you for joining our Double D "Pretty Pink Hearts' challenge!
    Diane DD DT

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  5. Oh Gracie this is so soft and pretty! Just gorgeous! Thanks so much for joining in the fun at Double D Challenges! We hope you’ll come back often.

    Darlene
    DOUBLE D
    DAR’S CRAFTY CREATIONS

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  6. Such a beautiful card, Gracie! Your sentiments are drool worthy! And I love seeing all these tips in one place. I especially appreciate the one about making your own molds. Great tips!!! <3

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  7. What an amazing piece of artwork! Gorgeous!

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  8. A beautiful card Gracie and thank you for the helpful tips!

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  9. What a beautiful card! I love layered, embellished cards and don't see enough for my taste! Haha! You have some great tips too--thank you!

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  10. Beautiful card, Gracie. Love the soft colours. So elegant and delicate. Gorgeous! Have a wonderful day, dear friend.
    Hugs,
    Lena
    Lena’s Creations

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  11. Gorgeous card Gracie! It's so elegant and pretty.
    Thanks for joining us at Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge
    Mandy xx

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  12. So soft and lovely! The colors and all your layers are just gorgeous. Thanks for joining us at Great Impressions!

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  13. Lovely card! Thank you for joining us at Great Impressions! HUGS! :) Mynn xx

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  14. What a beautiful card ,love all the soft layering and texture .....
    Thanks for joining us at craft-Dee bowz and good luck
    Tracey X

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  15. Oh, so beautiful.♥
    Thank you for joining us at Card and Scrap.
    Hugs Line

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  16. Gorgeous card Gracie, the layers and all the die cuts and details are so pretty, I love the vintage look of this :-)

    thanks for joining us on the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge
    luv
    Lols x x x

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  17. lovely! would love a video of the process of one of your projects!

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  18. So delicate and beautiful Gracie. Thank you for joining us at Frilly and Funkie. Jenny x

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  19. Stunning card - so pretty!
    Thanks for playing at Pile It On!
    Helen x

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  20. What a beauty! So so pretty! Love all the details and Thanks for sharing this informative post, it will be very helpful while creating shabby chic projects :)

    ReplyDelete

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