Art Orphans, Part 2 - Cardmaking Tips

I went into my at-home craft room last weekend in the mood to make something, but with no particular direction.

There was a stack of random papers on my work table so I picked it up and started sorting through it. Upon closer inspection, they turned out to be my "artsy orphans"! Visit the blog entry from last summer to learn more about them. Those little art panels from past workshops were all paired up with matching card bases and coordinating mattes.

Jackpot.

Hours later, I emerged from the room with quite the impressive little pile of cards ready to go. I did some serious cardmaking.

It's been trendy to make altered tags and colorful panels, but what do you do with them once completed? THIS, folks.

Tips:
1. Choose a collection of art panels and trim, if necessary. Most of my panels were roughly 2.5x2.5".

2. Study the colors of the panels, and match them up with papers in your stash. Check your scrap pile and POP's (Pounds of Paper).

3. Choose a card base, trim to 5.5x8.5 and score horizontally at 4.25".

4. Measure your art panel, and trim a contrasting matte 1/4" larger than the panel. For example, cut a 2.75x2.75" matte for a 2.5x2.5" art panel. I know. Math. Sorry about that. But take a second and measure the panel. Write it down if you have to. It works.

5. Select a second matte with coordinating paper. Trim the matte to a size that you like. Many times I'll trim to 4x5.25 so that it nests nicely onto the card base.

6. Add a third complementary color and trim to fit. Anchoring strips are nice.

7. Keep going until all of your art panels have a happy home.

8. Walk away for six months.

9. Come back and crank out some fun cards on a Saturday morning. Grab your stamps, a simple black ink pad, and adhesive. Don't forget to wear your superhero cape. You're about to feel like one.

Here they are. Notice that I only used a few wonderful little stamps and low profile embellishments since these are for the troops.

Happy little non-orphaned art panels now, aren't they?

Have fun being a superhero!
Tricia