SERENDIPITY TECHNIQUE ~ HAPPY BIRTHDAY ~ CARDS

 

Happy June Everyone! Holly here today, and I have an 'oldie but a goodie' technique to share with you. It uses up scraps, can be messy, and always turns out great. Let's get to it.

 

Begin with scraps- gather up papers that you might otherwise toss. This is recycling time. I also chose a stamp-off sheet for my base paper. It's copy paper, light enough to not add more bulk, and strong enough to support the glued on papers.

 

Time to glue on the papers. Layer, tear, punch, then glue them down, getting all the edges well.

  

 Time to stamp a little. I chose to mix a little IRIDESCENT EMBOSSING POWDER with the QUEEN'S GOLD EMBOSSING POWDER. Then, I stamped a FLOURISHES 1 stamp randomly around, using VERSAMARK INK. The embossing powder mixture gives a bit of a distressed look which goes well with the torn papers.

 

The sheet has been cut up, and can be used as is, or you can add a little more embossing if you have bare spots, and along the edges here and there. You can drag a gold marker along the edges of other pieces. You can also find other additions to this technique online, simply search ~ serendipity technique.

 

I added more heat embossing to these pieces, added a matching piece of embossed cardstock, and stamped HAPPY BIRTHDAY using Jet Black ARCHIVAL INK. I found the butterfly brad in my stash, and popped up the square it's on with foam tape. Before adhering any papers, purple ink was spritzed on the background.

 

The pieces on this card were edged with a gold marker. Before attaching them to the card base, I stamped HAPPY BIRTHDAY  to mimic the angle of the top strip, using Versamark, and embossed with Queen's Gold embossing powder, straight up, nothing mixed in. I also sprinkled some of  the embossing powder in a loose arc, and heat it from underneath, finishing with heat on top, once it melts.The strips and small squares were glued on, trimmed and touched up with the gold marker where needed.

 

I added a bit more of the mixed embossing powder to these squares, then used a corner rounder punch on two opposite corners on each piece. I sponged DISTRESS INK around each piece and the edges of the panel they are attached to. Stamped Happy Birthday with the same distress ink, added a bit of bling, purposely out of line. This adds a little movement and playfulness.

 I love this technique- it always turns out great, but can be messy. My fingers get sticky because I take the glue stick over the edges of the papers to make sure they really stay stuck down. I find a wet washcloth close at hand, really helps. Stick a few pieces down, wipe my fingers ~~ repeat.

Also, a little excess glue here and there creates a few more places for the embossing powder to stick.

I hope you like this project share today, but even more, I hope you get out your scraps and try it!

The great stamp set~ HAPPY BIRTHDAY PLAIN & SIMPLE is the perfect mix of styles for the different looks of the cards. You'll love it!

                            Have a wonderfully creative day, and thank you for stopping by.