Whats on the Inside is as important as what is on the Outside

We often spend hours or even days, creating our masterpiece cards, with lavishly embellished fronts, bejewelled and glittered to within an inch of a cards life to give it that WOW factor, then when we open the card there is often just a simple sentiment stamped.

I often wonder why I do this, is it because to brighten the inside would take too long?  Well here are three cards that I have made, that have quick colourful insides (although the outsides may take a little longer!).

This card was created using 'Coral Reef' 15-002 Mix and match card stock, 'Warm Wishes' 40-074 was stamped with Ladybug Red Memento ink for the background, The scallop border was then punched from 'Coral Reef' 15-001mix and match card stock with an EK Success border punch and American Craft ribbon added to embellish.

'Auriculas' 2656J was then stamped onto separate white card, using Memento Bamboo Leaves ink and the stems coloured with Marvy alcohol marker YG645. The flowers were then stamped again onto a second piece of white card using Memento Ladybug Red ink and then shaded with Marvy alcohol Markers P782 & P793, the flowers were then individually cut out, shaped with an embossing tool, brads added to the centres and mounted onto the main stem using dimensional glue and foam pads.

Did you notice the leaves? They were created by stamping 'Sundial' 4159K with Memento Bamboo Leaves ink and coloured with Marvy alcohol markers YG645 & YG647. The sentiment is from the Penny Black transparent stamp set 'Flower Gallery' 30-031 and was stamped onto pink marble card using Versafine Onyx Black Ink. Now for the inside.......much quicker!

I stamped 'Auriculas' 2656J using Angel Pink Memento ink and then lightly coloured with Marvy alcohol pens R813 and YG642! The sentiment is from Penny Black's 'Flourish Thank You' 4175F, as I only wanted part of the verse, I used the Memento Tuxedo Black marker pen to ink the stamp.



For this card I folded a piece of 'Fuchsia Fantasies' 13-001 Mix and Match cardstock and placed it in a Spellbinders Nesting Grand Large Scallop Oval (making sure the fold was inside the cutting line) to create the card blank, (tip: take a small slither of card off the bottom scallop to make the card stand). I then masked the top two thirds and stamped 'Warm Wishes' 40-074 with Memento Angel Pink ink.  I then cut a patterned border from Crafty Individuals Springtime background papers using Spellbinders borderabilities Classic Scallop and adhered to the card. 'Candid'  4039K was then stamped onto white card with Memento Bamboo Leaves , coloured with Marvy alcohol marker YG645 and cut out using Spellbinders Nesting Ovals.

'Candid' 4039K was then stamped again onto Crafty Individuals Springtime papers with Memento Rosebut ink and the petals cut out and shaped with an embossing tool. Each bloom was then mounted onto the main image with dimensional glue and Pastel Raspberry Liquid Pearls and gems added to the centres.  To hide the straight edge on the fold I added an organza ribbon tied with string pink pearls. Now for the easy inside........

'Candid' 4039K was stamped with Memento Angel Pink ink and  then coloured with Marvy alcohol marker P782, the sentiment is from the transparent set 'Love Assortment' 30-090 and has been stamped using Versafine Onyx Black ink.

For the final card I folded 'Spring Meadows' 06-002 mix and match cardstock to create a card blank, I then stamped 'Garden Poems' 3869K with Memento Tuxedo Black ink, coloured the blooms with Copic Alcohol Markers Y15, Y17, YR16, YG05 & YG17.  I then used a Spellbinders Nesting Oval die to cut the hill shape from the bottom of the card and placed a piece of 'Grand Canyon' 03-002 Mix and Match cardstock to create the earth.   The flower heads and earth mound were then glued and Flowersoft Ultrafine Earth added. To finish off I hand drew some wonky yellow lines.

The bottom panel of the card was created using 'Spring Meadows' 06-001 Mix and Match cardstock which was stamped with 'Warm Wishes' 40-074 and Memento Cottage Ivy ink.  Some bakers twine was wrapped around the card to finish the outside.   And finally for the last inside........

I simply stamped 'Garden Poems' 3869K with Memento Cantalope ink and coloured the petals and leaves with Marvy Markers OY841 & YG 642.  The sentiment 'Think Spring' 3586E was then stamped over the stems using Versafine Onyx Black ink.

Wow if you are still reading this, thanks for ploughing through such a long post! I hope this inspires you to be creative with your insides too!

Hugs Cathy
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