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Card Tutorial: Polygon Watercolor Magic

June 9, 2017

Card Tutorial: Polygon Watercolor Magic

cathyzielske.com
Today I’m sharing a card with you that I’m just a tiny bit obsessed with. It all started when I watched this video from the amazing Laura Bassen, and I decided I needed to master the use of the Polygon Cover Plate Die from Neat & Tangled. Today I have a tutorial showing you how I made this card using Distress Inks and some watercolor techniques. I am not a painter, but this stuff is seriously so fun once you get started. I keep making watercolor panels, even though I literally have no plans for them.

cathyzielske.com
The Love Your Guts above card is also featured today on the Simon Says Stamp blog. I wanted to share the process behind the card here today!

You should know this: I am not a card making expert! I could have done this much more quickly by not even bothering to cut out all the pretty watercolor bits. I just got an email from a very smart cookie who said, “…just glue the white die cut frame onto the painted water color background, run that through your die cut machine to flatten, trim off the edges and adhere to the card base.” I just wanted to have all those little bits flush perfectly with the white frame. But hey, I’m still having fun and learning!

Comments? Questions? By all means, fire away!

SUPPLIES:

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Comments

  1. stacey says

    June 9, 2017 at 8:19 am

    Love the cards, they are gorgeous!!! I love that you put your washi tape for your magnet in the links!! Saves me a lot of time hunting it down, Thanks for that!!!

    Reply
    • Cathy Zielske says

      June 9, 2017 at 9:05 am

      Oh, yes! You’re welcome. Doodlebug washi… it is the cutest!

      Reply
  2. Jana says

    June 9, 2017 at 10:41 am

    Love! I have the same problem with the pick me up tool. So unfortunately I have no suggestions

    Reply
  3. Pat says

    June 9, 2017 at 11:37 am

    Wow, you did great on that tutorial. You are very interesting to listen to and seem more down to earth (like you could make some mistakes like the rest of us). Very pretty card and am interested in that die….

    Reply
    • Cathy Zielske says

      June 9, 2017 at 12:16 pm

      Well thanks, Pat! You know, I truly am not an expert and there were faster ways to do this card, but… I just had a lot of fun while doing it my way! 🙂

      Reply
  4. Christine says

    June 9, 2017 at 2:05 pm

    Cathy: You are a riot – I had to LOL at your “disclaimer” about being a card making expert.. You’ll be an expert in no time. When I first looked at the card, I thought you just cut out the white and put it over the pretty watercolor sheet. But it won’t have the dimensions your card has. But you can now use your pretty frame (after taking out the bits) and make another card with it over white or black or a complementary background paper. Try glue dots for small items. They’re very easy to use.

    Reply
    • Cathy Zielske says

      June 9, 2017 at 7:55 pm

      No, I literally did it the hardest way possible! ha! but it was fun. 😉

      Reply
  5. Birdnscrap says

    June 9, 2017 at 2:59 pm

    Beautiful card! But why not just place the white cut out over the watercolor paper so you don’t have to cut and piece the watercolor paper?

    Reply
    • Cathy Zielske says

      June 9, 2017 at 7:54 pm

      Yes, that actually never occurred to me! lol!

      Reply
      • Birdnscrap says

        June 9, 2017 at 9:10 pm

        Well, Christine is probably right, that it wouldn’t have the dimensional effect. But maybe try layering the white over the watercolor and see if you like it as much. Love your videos!

        Reply
  6. Leanne in Cali says

    June 9, 2017 at 5:40 pm

    Love this! Thanks for putting a smile on my face. Your card is beautiful and I always love your videos!!

    Reply
  7. Christy Beans says

    June 9, 2017 at 6:51 pm

    Personally I prefer the look of true inlay to just flattening a frame on top. In person it can make such a difference and really look amazing. That’s the joy of the cardmaking craft… We all make it our own. Keep on making, girl! ?

    Reply
  8. Lydia Lee says

    June 9, 2017 at 7:20 pm

    You rock.

    Reply
    • Cathy Zielske says

      June 15, 2017 at 7:41 am

      Awww. Thanks!

      Reply
  9. Mary D. says

    June 14, 2017 at 2:17 pm

    Just wondering what size cards you are typically making in your tutorials? What size is the base card & what size is the layered design on top? I am wanting to buy the Lawn Fawn stitched or dotted dies & not sure whether to buy the large or small?? Also are you using precut card bases or making your own? Basic questions from a newbie – thanks much?

    Reply
    • Cathy Zielske says

      June 15, 2017 at 7:40 am

      Hey Mary! Geez, that would be nice to include, huh? I was like you before I started making them. I had NO Idea what size cards were.

      I’m making cards that are 4.25 x 5.5, in the US that is considered the A2 size. Both of those Lawn Fawn sets will work with this card size. If you buy the larger ones, the largest die in the set is 4.25 x 5.5 which makes it a perfect fit to be the background of your card design.

      I am making my own card bases using the Neenah Solar White 80# and 100#, although I just switched to the 100# and really love it, BUT, I just got a new teflon bone folder that creases that heavier 100# like buttah! It was not cheap (the bone folder) but I am so glad I bought it!

      Reply
      • Christy Beans says

        June 15, 2017 at 12:22 pm

        Also, your dog is less likely to eat the teflon one than a bone folder. #askmehowiknow

        And, Mary, A2 size is exactly half of an 8-1/2 x 11″ sheet of cardstock, either cutting vertically or horizontally, folded in half to create your card base. ?

        Reply
        • Birdnscrap says

          June 15, 2017 at 2:22 pm

          LOL!

          Reply
  10. Mary D says

    June 16, 2017 at 4:28 pm

    Thanks for the info on card and base sizes which helps a lot!

    Reply
  11. Stephanie Lanzalotto says

    June 29, 2017 at 6:22 am

    I had to have your “Simple Sentiments #1”, and bought it as soon as I saw it. I am paying attention to anyone with that kind of humor! I have a secret weapon for you. I CASEd your card with a similar die from Winnie and Walter that I already had called “Multifaceted Cutaway”. I used shades of blue distress ink, and a lime green for the “pop” color. There is a product that is a double sided adhesive called “Stick It” that comes in sheets. After I die cut cut the white panel, I adhered a 5.5 x 4.25″ sheet of Stick It to the back of it so that all of the open cuts already had glue on them. I used a very shart and pointy craft tweezer by CutterBee to pick up the watercolored cuts, fit them in the open space, and voila! Easy peasy. Still takes some time, but no gluing necessary and the tweezer allows you to set the watercolored piece right where it goes with ease. Stick It is awesome for inlaid die cut projects… just sayin’. Thanks for the great tutorial and the fabulous stamps! Stephanie -https://slanzalotto.blogspot.com

    Reply
    • Cathy Zielske says

      June 29, 2017 at 7:18 am

      Stick It! yes… I have to get me some of that to work with! 🙂 And thank you for buying the set! More cheeky humor is coming to Simon soon!

      Reply
  12. Milli D says

    September 4, 2017 at 10:05 am

    Another beautiful card! Someone may have already told you this about the PickMeUp, but the end opposite the sticky end pulls out to be used to hold your item down. And I totally did NOT explain that well. Just remove the end opposite the sticky end, you’ll see what I mean. Keep rockin’ out on those cards, sistuh!

    Reply
    • Cathy Zielske says

      September 4, 2017 at 10:13 am

      Thanks! And yes, someone did message me about that! lol! I am learning so much!

      Reply

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