Card Making Tip: Using Patterned Paper You Don't Love

True confession time. Have you ever bought something at the craft store or ordered supplies online and when you got it home or received it, you had no idea what to do with it? Or maybe you realized you didn't even like it? That was me this week. Luckily, I found an awesome card making tip for using patterned paper that you don't love.

A while back, I purchased the Dandy Garden Memories & More Cards and Envelopes from Stampin' Up! I love the envelopes! There's a beautiful wildflower design on the front and the flap is lined. They're so pretty! But, the cards? The patterned paper seemed pretty simple, but for some reason, it just didn't work. I kept trying different things and it was all junk. There was something about the busy-ness and contrast of the patterned paper on the cards that it just didn't seem to work with the Dragonfly Garden stamp set or the Dandy Garden patterned paper. But I wasn't going to just throw it away! What could I do???

Blending Brushes to the Rescue!

To lessen the contrast of the pattern on the front of the Memories & More cards, I used blending brushes to add more color. This is exactly what I needed to make the cards work! For this card, I blended in Bumblebee ink from the edges of the card. I combined this with pieces of the Dandy Garden patterned paper and the wildflower image from the Dragonfly Garden stamp set. 

Dimensions for the Wildflower Card Idea

Basic White: 1 3/4" x 5"
Calypso Coral cardstock: 1 15/16" x 5 3/16"
Bumblebee cardstock: 2 1/4" x 5 1/2"
Bumblebee Dandy Garden patterned paper: 3 1/2" x 2"
​Calypso Coral Dandy Garden patterned paper: 1/2" x 4"

Pairing the Memories & More cards with Butterfly Brilliance

While the Dragonfly Garden stamps are designed to coordinate with the Dandy Garden Memories & More Cards and Envelopes, they also work great with other stamps, like the Butterfly Brilliance Collection.

I blended the edges of this card with Bumblebee ink as well and I blended the edges of the solid butterfly cut from So Saffron cardstock. The sentiment is from the Well Said stamp set and the Matte Black dots balance nicely with the black butterfly detail and sentiment.

Cutting Dimensions for the Butterfly Brilliance Card

Bumblebee Dandy Garden patterned paper: 2" x 6"
Striped Dandy Garden patterned paper: 2 1/2" x 5 1/4"
So Saffron cardstock and Basic Black cardstock (butterfly): 3 3/4" x 2 1/2"
Basic Black cardstock (sentiment): 1/2" x 2"

Changing the Color of the patterned Paper

Since the design on the cards is Bumblebee colored, I added Bumblebee ink to the last two samples. But, I wanted to see if I could change the color and eliminate the pattern almost entirely. So, I added Calypso Coral to the edges of this card. Then, I filled the card front with a piece of the Dandy Garden patterned paper. I added dragonflies stamped and punched with the Dragonfly Garden Bundle and a sentiment from the Ridiculously Awesome stamp set. 

Cutting Dimensions for this Dragonfly Card Idea

Calypso Coral Dandy Garden patterned paper: 4" x 6"
Dandelion Dandy Garden patterned paper: 3 13/16" x 5 13/16"
Calypso Coral Dandy Garden patterned paper (sentiment): 3 1/2" x 2 1/4"
Basic White cardstock (sentiment): 2 1/2" x 2"
Basic White cardstock (dragonflies): (2) 2 1/4" x 2" 

Shop the Supply List for these Dandy Garden Cards

Thank you for stopping by to see my card ideas. I hope they inspired you! If you need any of the supplies for these cards, it's easy to shop the Supply List. Simply uncheck the items you don't need and click "Add to Cart." Be sure to use this month's Host Code on the next screen under the pink "Checkout" button to earn Frequent Shopper Points towards FREE stamps. 

Supply List for the Dandy Garden Cards