Can Grunge Be Gorgeous?

Why,… yes it can! Gorgeous Grunge (wood-mount or clear mount) is becoming a 'staple' stamp set. You'll find it on cards and projects all over Pinterest. It has perfect background images. My stampers love it!

But the images are so awesome that they can also be the MAIN images of your stamped art (as in this teen birthday card above). It's a fun-fold card!

Wanna learn how to make it?! Below are directions.

First take a 4" x 5-1/2" piece of Whisper White card stock and find the center. Attach a 4" x 1-1/2" piece of Bermuda Bay Designer Series paper so the left edge of this designer paper meets the center of your white card stock as shown above.

Then die-cut with the largest die in the Labels Framelits Collection. Use the points on the top and bottom of the framelit to line up the center mark (left edge of the designer paper) of the white card stock. Keep in mind that the white card stock will fit just within the framelit, so be precise when lining up your card stock for die-cutting. You may certainly start with larger card stock and paper, but I have done it this way so that I get the most from my supplies – 4 from a sheet of card stock, 24 from a sheet of designer paper.

For the inside part or base of the card, start with a 3-1/2" x 7" piece of Bermuda Bay card stock. Score at 1-3/4" and 5-1/4" as shown above. Then add one more score mark on each end so the outer sections are wide enough for your adhesive. I made my score marks at 3/8" from each edge.

Crease each fold with a bone folder so that your folds are crisp.

Now it's time to decorate the inside and outside of the card.

Stamp the Gorgeous Grunge images on the left front piece with Tangerine Tango, Bermuda Bay and Smokey Slate. You'll notice that the gray splotch and the diagonal lines are light in color. To get the lighter color, stamp onto your Grid Paper first. Then without re-inking stamp again onto the card. I call this 'stamping off.' I've also heard it called 'second generation stamping.'

Put adhesive on the narrow sections of the base card stock piece as shown below. I used Sticky Strip. It's a good, strong adhesive which is necessary for a card like this, since when you open the card you'll be pulling and putting stress on where the card front is attached the base.

Attach one card front piece at a time. Keep the card closed and flat when doing so.

Below is a view from the bottom edge of the card when open.

Decorate your right card front piece. I decorated mine with a Candy Dot (Bermuda Bay from the Brights) and Brad Bases, Basic Jewel Rhinestones, and a Vintage Faceted Designer Button.