Shabby chic cards - Tips and tricks

Hello everyone!!

Kavitha here today with a new projects and some tips & tricks to share about making shabby chic cards.You all probably know by now that shabby chic is my most favorite style and i love to make shabby chic cards especially.So for today's project i have used the brand new "Magnolia" paper pad,oh and what should i say about this paper paper pad?its absolutely gorgeous with most beautiful colors and patterns,and i sure you are going to fall in love with the beautiful textures of this paper pad.Though this paper pad is quiet bright and colorful it has some beautiful lace patterns in soft shades which adds perfect contrast and gives immense possibilities  to mix and match

So lets see how i put this card together,..
You need two contrast designs,one busy paper and one(almost) plain paper to layer. My card measure 4 by 7 inches,the second layer should be 1/4 to 1/2 inch lesser(depends on how much you want to show the background design),mine is 3 3/4 by 6 3/4 inches.

 

Shabby chic is just the softer version of vintage,so you need to give some distressed, aged effect to the project in this too but here white color is used to give the distressed effect instead of brown.So distress both the paper using the distress tool,slightly tear the second layer to make the background design little more visible.While sticking the second layer,apply glue leaving 1cm on the edges which makes this step easier.

 

In the places where you have teared the paper,add a tiny bit of lace or cheese cloth,do this while the glue is still wet so that you can push it inside the paper.This gives more softer and shabby look to the card

 Now fussy cut some flowers and elements from paper pad and motif sheet

 

Always cut the dies using the pattern papers you have used for the card or from the same paper pack instead of cardstock,this gives more harmonious look to your composition

 

Add a layer of chess cloth and some lace pieces where you are going to compose your design.I love to to tear the lace into pieces and add as it gives more distressed and shabby look ;) ,but you can also add a full layer to the card size.

 

Now add the first layer of fussy cut flowers

 

Then keep building up the layers using chipboard designs,die cuts and some more fussy cut flowers.The best way to get 3-dimensional effect to your layers instead of all looking stacked up is to add the elements in different levels. For example add a flower behind the lace,and another one above that,a die cut or flower behind the chipboard and one above that,same applies to all the elements.You can also add foam dots to few elements for more dimensional look.

 

Here is my finished card,like i said we use white paint to give distressed look for shabby chic cards,so dry brush some white gesso over the flowers and edges of the card and mix some gesso with water and splatter it all over the card

    some close ups

Few more products i like too add to my shabby chic cards(not exactly on this card)are seam binding ,pearls,rhinestones,sisal,micro beads and sequins,enamel dots,pollens and berries etc.

Hope you liked the post,let me know if you have any questions.
Happy crafting,
Kavi

Supplies list:
Magnolia 12*12 paper pad
Floral oriental cardstock
Magnolia motif sheet