Polkadoodles Agnes Elephant Handmade Card [Step by Step Card Making Tutorial]



Hello!!! Thank you so much for stopping at Simply Crafting today! I'm so happy you're here!

If you're interested in making your own handmade cards then you're in the right place. Keep on reading and you will find everything you need to colour and make this card as well as all my best tips and tricks to make it a fun and enjoyable hobby.


Where to Buy Handmade Cards

If you prefer to buy ready made cards then take a look at my NuMonday shop. I sell a range of unique handmade cards and children's clothing that's designed to last.


Making Your Own Handmade Cards

Making your own handmade cards is a fun and relaxing (if addictive!!) hobby that will allow you to make truely personalised greetings cards for your familly and friends. You don't need any fancy equipment or materials to get started. Don't get me wrong you'll want ALL THE THINGS but you can start enjoying cardmaking without spending much. I love impressing my loved ones with unique handmade cards that really show them how much I care.


Card Making Supplies You’ll Need

Agnes Elephant Hat Shopping - digi stamp, SVG/DXF Cutting File Dovecraft Floral Muse 6x6 Paper Pack A4 Kraftstax 100 Pack 6mm Ivory Pearl Stickers Glitter Paper Flowers Small White Glitter Paper Flowers Petite White Berties Bows Faux Burlap 35mm Anita's Clear Gloss - 25ml Cards & Envelopes 6 x 6 White Scalloped 50 Pack Paper Trimmer Large A4 Cutting Mat Dafa Design Knife Angled Tweezers 6 Inch Paper Creaser Titanium Kitchen Scissors 8.5 3D Tweezer Scissors

   

Some of these links are affiliate links. This means that I earn a small commission when products are purchased through the links I post here (at no additional cost to you)


Printing Digital Stamps

Agnes Elephant Hat Shopping - digi stamp, SVG/DXF Cutting File

The digi image I have used is from Polkadoodles, from their new Too Cute Agnes & Bella Collection. This one is Agnes the Elephant. Isn't she just the cutest!? Click on the image to get her for yourself. The images are availible individually or you can save money by buying the whole set like I did - I can never choose just one!! Once you've got your own copy of the digital stamp print it out using a normal printer onto high quality paper or thin card. It's best if you can leave the image to dry overnight as this reduces the chances of the ink smudging.

Colouring the Digital Stamp

Cardmaking Polkadoodles Agnes Elephant

I've used the following ProMarkers and ProMarker Brush pens to colour my digital stamp:

Elephant

 

Clothes and Accessories

 


Preparing the Layers of the Card

Cardmaking Polkadoodles Agnes Elephant

This card is made up of three layers of mounted papers plus the image and greeting. I start by cutitng the largest layer and then work my way down to the smallest. This way I can make use of the scraps leftover from cutting the bigger pieces of paper.

Each layer of paper is mounted onto a piece of kraft cardstock that measures 3mm larger than the paper. This gives a lovely little border around the papers. Kraft card is great for this because it subtly goes with everything leaving the lovely designer papers to take centre stage.

For this card the layers measure:
Largest: 14cm square
Square: 11cm square
Strip: 14cm x 5cm

Cardmaking Polkadoodles Agnes Elephant

The digital stamped image is die cut to make it a perefct circle. I'm also using a printed greeting whoich is die cut with a smaller circle die.

Cardmaking Polkadoodles Agnes Elephant

The mounts for these circles are made by drawing round the dies as if they were a stencil. Whilst this isn't as neat or as easy as using a slightly larger die, it does mean that you can get away with a smaller collection of nested dies, thus saving quite a bit of money.

Cardmaking Polkadoodles Agnes Elephant

I use tweezer scissors to cut out my circles. These scissors are fantastic for detailed work, they're definitley one of my craft box essentials.

Inking the Layers

Cardmaking Polkadoodles Agnes Elephant

I love distress inks for adding some subtle shading to my cards. They make my cards look so much better in just a few minutes. I use the distress blending tool to sweep the ink onto the edges of my card blank.

Cardmaking Polkadoodles Agnes Elephant

I also ink the dges of my images, it really makes them stand out.

Cardmaking Polkadoodles Agnes Elephant

Double sided tape is by far my favourite adhesive for card making. It's quick and easy to use and it always leaves a neat finish. Removing the back of the tape can be tricky so I use a pokey tool to lift up a corner. I recently retired my old pokey tool and repaced it with the Design Knife, it's a pokey tool, craft knife and embossing tool all in one.


Applying the Ribbon

Cardmaking Polkadoodles Agnes Elephant

Ribbon can be tricky to stick onto cards. This is my favoiurite technique for neatly hiding the raw ends and stoping them from fraying. I lay my strip of mounted paper flat on my craft mat and stick a length of double sided tape where I want my ribbon. I make sure that the ends of the tape extend over the ends of the paper and left them stick lightly to the mat.

Cardmaking Polkadoodles Agnes Elephant

Then I place my length of ribbon to the exposed tape and press it onto the paper. I gently lift the paper off the craft mat and turn it over. It's easy to press the ribbon and the extra tape to the back of the paper so that the ends are neatly hidden from the front of the card.


Assembling the Card

Cardmaking Polkadoodles Agnes Elephant

I love adding dimension to my cards with 3D foam pads. They make it so quick and easy. You don't need a lot of them, just one in each corner and one along each edge if it's a bigger piece of card.

Cardmaking Polkadoodles Agnes Elephant

Bent tweezers are fantastic for perfectly positioning all the layers.

Cardmaking Polkadoodles Agnes Elephant

And they're also great for gripping gems and pearls while you stick them in place.

Cardmaking Polkadoodles Agnes Elephant

Sometimes an embelishment needs a little extra adhesion, like these little paper flowers. Silicone glue is my go-to glue for embellishments that won't be lying flat on the card. I use my pokey tool to scoop a blob of silicone glue from the end of the tube. Then I put it on the card and roll the pokey tool away, leaving a neat blob of silicone glue on my card. I pop my embellishment on top and leave it to dry. Sometimes I hold the embellishment in place with a paperclip while the silicone glue dries.


Inside the Card

Cardmaking Polkadoodles Agnes Elephant

The inside of the card is also decorated with matching papers along with a blank square for a personal message.


Cardmaking Polkadoodles Agnes Elephant

I do hope this card making project inspires you to have a go at making your own handmade cards. Follow me on your favourite social media channel to see more craft projects like this.

Bridie @ Simply Crafting

Shop at Simply Crafting  EMail Simply Crafting Follow Simply Crafting on Pinterest  Follow Simply Crafting on Instagram  Follow Simply Crafting on Facebook Shop with Simply Crafting on NuMonday


Where to Buy Handmade Cards

If you prefer to buy ready made cards then take a look at my NuMonday shop. I sell a range of unique handmade cards and children's clothing that's designed to last.


Making Your Own Handmade Cards

Making your own handmade cards is a fun and relaxing (if addictive!!) hobby that will allow you to make truely personalised greetings cards for your familly and friends. You don't need any fancy equipment or materials to get started. Don't get me wrong you'll want ALL THE THINGS but you can start enjoying cardmaking without spending much. I love impressing my loved ones with unique handmade cards that really show them how much I care.


Card Making Supplies You’ll Need

Agnes Elephant Hat Shopping - digi stamp, SVG/DXF Cutting File Dovecraft Floral Muse 6x6 Paper Pack A4 Kraftstax 100 Pack 6mm Ivory Pearl Stickers Glitter Paper Flowers Small White Glitter Paper Flowers Petite White Berties Bows Faux Burlap 35mm Anita's Clear Gloss - 25ml Cards & Envelopes 6 x 6 White Scalloped 50 Pack Paper Trimmer Large A4 Cutting Mat Dafa Design Knife Angled Tweezers 6 Inch Paper Creaser Titanium Kitchen Scissors 8.5 3D Tweezer Scissors

   

Some of these links are affiliate links. This means that I earn a small commission when products are purchased through the links I post here (at no additional cost to you)


Linking Up To:

Digi Choosday Challenge
Card Making Challenge at Polkadoodles
A Gem of a Challenge
Your Whims Wednesday
Tuesday Turn About
Wonderful Wednesday
Party in Your PJs
{wow me} Wednesday
Creative Muster
Craftastic Monday Link Party
Create, Bake, Grow & Gather Party
Through the Craft Room Door
Crafting Happiness


Pin it now, Craft it later

Cardmaking Polkadoodles Agnes Elephant

Shop at Simply Crafting  EMail Simply Crafting Follow Simply Crafting on Pinterest  Follow Simply Crafting on Instagram  Follow Simply Crafting on Facebook Shop with Simply Crafting on NuMonday


About Simply Crafting

Simply Crafting

At Simply Crafting you can choose from tens of thousands of crafty goodies from the brands you know and love. Our prices are the lowest we can possibly make them. You can expect to save at least 20% off standard retail prices. Orders are usually delivered within 14 days. Most of our products are not held in stock and are ordered from our suppliers after you order them through our website - that's how we can offer you such amazingly low prices.


These are a Few of My Favourite Crafty Goodies

A4 Premium Card Pack 180gsm 100 Sheets Mixes Brights Simply Creative Gems Double Satin Ribbon


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Shop at Simply Crafting  EMail Simply Crafting Follow Simply Crafting on Pinterest  Follow Simply Crafting on Instagram  Follow Simply Crafting on Facebook Shop with Simply Crafting on NuMonday

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