There seems to be a driving force among hobbyists and artists to collect the newest and coolest products. Usage of these products is apparently optional because we find ourselves adopting some right away and the rest just sits in our supply stash. While there are often consignment sales at your local scrap or stamp store and there are many charities that would appreciate the donation – the stash seems to remain at a constant level.
Cards are the perfect landing zone for crafts supplies stash inventory. Something about a card seems less vital than a scrapbook page, a collage, or other art form. Cards can be sent to everyone, they are always appreciated, and the creation time investment is minimal when you use the tips in this Quick Card Series and your supplies on hand.
Today’s focus is stickers and rub-on designs. Typically stickers and rub-ons are purchased for their ease of use, coordination with other elements in a larger project, or on impulse because the colors or design speaks to a favorite place, item, or subject.
Using the guidelines from Quick Cards Part One and stickers or rub-ons as your focal point image, you can create a set of creating cards quickly and easily. Select a theme that can be accommodated with similar colors and images, choose two colors and a neutral from your solid card stock or printed paper, and your focal images.
There are two natural starting points for creating cards from stickers and rub-ons and both should be incorporated into your routine:
- The clean-up cards – When you have finished a more time-consuming project and have leftovers right in front of you, don’t stick them away somewhere; create a couple quick cards.
- Color or Theme cards – Most of us stash leftovers by color or theme. Simply pull out a set of left over rub-ons or stickers, some paper scraps that co-ordinate, and get started.
Remember to keep “guides” for your card layouts handy. Magazines, cards from other artists, books, and internet galleries are all great resources. Don’t hesitate to repeat a design that works easily for you, remember the cards will be going to different people.
There are times when stickers and rub-ons seem harder to use because once they are gone, they are gone. Try to remind yourself that you bought these items to use and to share, not to hoard. Consider it your duty as an artist to share beauty in the world, even if it is your very last butterfly sticker.
Try not to be stingy with your stickers and rub-ons either. Most of them are sold in bundles because they look best combined together. Combine them with your stamps, brads, ribbons, eyelets, and other embellishments too. Here’s a link to a card called “Girly Birthday” that combines stickers from Crafty Secret a rubber stamp, ribbon, and a fancy brad.
Some of the biggest challenges with stickers and rub-ons are sizing appropriately for a card and keeping the images from appearing to “float” on the design. Conquer these issues by matting the designs on larger pieces of cardstock, avoid centering designs, take advantage of “white space” on the design, and link items together visually. Take a look at the Easter Rub-on cards made with products from Reminise paper company for more inspiration. The link above for "Girly Birthday" will show these cards too.
Stickers and rub-on designs layered with cardstock and embellished with 3-D items result in cards that are sure to please the recipient and the artist. Create these easy and fun cards in batches using scraps from other projects you’ve made previously.
Norma-Anne Chattin - Norma Anne Chattin, A.K.A. The Artful Tourist, lives as a writer, artist, and creativity coach in glorious South Florida. Her artwork ...
