Hello friends! A few days ago I posted a video where I shared my creative process and all the decisions (and indecisions) I make when I design a card. It was heartwarming to read all of your comments and feedback and I’m so happy you have found that video useful.
Today I’d like to share something different, but something that in a way continues the topic of cardmaking – I’d like to share my go-to cardmaking formula, I call it a perfect cardmaking formula (only in a way that it works perfectly for me when I make Clean & Simple cards). I’m also sharing a way to replace one of the elements I use in my formula with something that can be found in pretty much everybody’s stash.
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VIDEO TUTORIAL
I’m sharing a video tutorial, watch it below or on Youtube:
THE FORMULA
So my formula is simple: white card base (usually using specialty cardstock like woodgrain, spicy yogurt or simple colored card) + gold frame or gold die cut (usually using Altenew’s Antique Trims) + a large floral or a floral cluster + sentiment. Simple as that. I use this combo when I have a hard time coming up with a good design idea for a card and it has never let me down. See some ideas below (click the photo to go to that blog post):
One of the elements in this formula, gold die cut, can be created using dies and gold mirror cardstock (or silver if you are a silver kind o girl). I pulled out my Spellbinders’ dies and experimented a bit to see what frames/dies cuts I could make for my cards. I only made 8 examples (I wanted to show them in my video and I didn’t want the video to be very long, showing 7 on photos below as the 8th one is used on a card), but I look forward to making additional examples using dies from Spellbinders and other companies.
I chose Spellbinders to show as an example as they have very fancy and detailed dies and also because I have a lot of their designs (and I truly love their dies). See below the photos of the die cut + the names of the sets I used to create them. I also have all of these sets linked below.
Dies listed: Pierced Delight, Majestic Circles, Standard Circles, Royal Circles, Gold Rounds, Heart & Flutter
Dies listed: Luscious Labels One, Labels One, Fancy Framed Tags Four
CARD DETAILS
The frame I used for my card was created using a different set, Triple Tear. It is simple, yet elegant and I felt it was a perfect match for this project. To stick with my formula I went with white woodgrain cardstock from Simon Says Stamp (Altenew has identical card). For the flowers I used Altenew’s Vintage Flowers and matching dies. I did use a completely new color combo for me and I went with Peach and Yellow colors.
I used my mini MISTI stamping tool to stamp these and if you watch my video you can see how easy and quickly I was able to stamp two sets of flowers and leaves. I don’t use MISTI for all of my stamping, but it does work wonderfully for stamping color layering stamp sets and for stamping on textured paper such as watercolor paper.
For the sentiment I used one of my all time favorite sets, Labels Love, and heat embossed Thank You in gold embossing powder onto white cardstock cut it out and foam mounted over the frame. I couldn’t resist adding several sequins and clear drops to finish this project.
SUPPLIES
I’m listing the products I used below. Click on the link to go directly to the product. Where available I use compensated affiliate links which means if you make a purchase I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you so much for your support!
 Spellbinders Majestic Circles Dies Shop at: SSS | SPEL | AZ |
 Spellbinders Standard Circles LG Dies Shop at: SSS | SC | SPEL | AZ |
 Spellbinders Platinum Die Cutting Machine Shop at: SSS | SC | SPEL | AZ |
 Spellbinders Platinum 6 Die Cutting Machine Shop at: SSS | SC | SPEL | AZ |
 Spellbinders Fancy Framed Tags Four Dies Shop at: SC | SPEL | AZ |
 Spellbinders Labels One Dies Shop at: SSS | SC | SPEL | AZ |
 Spellbinders Triple Tear Dies Shop at: SSS | SC | SPEL | AZ |
 Spellbinder Hearts and Flutter Dies Shop at: SSS | SC | SPEL | AZ |
 Spellbinders Pierced Delight Dies Shop at: SSS | SC | SPEL | AZ |
 Spellbinders Royal Circle Dies Shop at: SSS | SPEL | AZ |
 Spellbinders Gold Rounds One Dies Shop at: SSS | SPEL | AZ |
 Spellbinders Luscious Labels One Dies Shop at: SC | SPEL | AZ |
 Pretty Pink Posh 4MM Clear Droplets (small) Shop at: SSS | RAH |
 Pretty Pink Posh 4MM Metallic Gold Sequins Shop at: SSS |
 Mini Misti Stamping Tool Shop at: SSS | SC | AZ |
 Altenew Label Love Stamp Set Shop at: SSS | AN |
 Altenew Vintage Flowers Stamp Set Shop at: SSS | AZ | AN |
 Altenew Vintage Flowers Die Set Shop at: SSS | AN |
 Altenew Vintage Flowers Clear Stamp and Die Bundle Shop at: SSS | AN |
 Altenew Peach Perfect Dye Ink Pad Shop at: SSS | AN |
 Altenew Summer Afternoon Oval Set Dye Ink Pads Shop at: SSS | AN |
 Altenew Red Sunset Dye Ink Pad Pack Shop at: SSS | AN |
 Altenew Gold Mirror Cardstock Shop at: AN |
 Altenew Woodgrain White Cardstock Shop at: AN |
Simon Says Stamp Woodgrain Cardstock White Shop at: SSS |
 DoCrafts Gold & Silver A4 Mirror Board Pack Shop at: SSS | AZ |
 ScraPerfect Crafting Pouch Shop at: SSS | AZ |
 Hero Arts Gold Embossing Powder PW100 Shop at: SSS | SC | HA | AZ |
 Versamark Watermark Emboss Ink Pad Shop at: SSS | HA | AZ |
 Ranger .5 Oz. Multi Medium Matte Adhesive Shop at: SSS | SC | AZ |
 Scrapbook Adhesives Thin White Foam Squares Shop at: SSS | AZ |
I just recently started making cards, so I guess you could say, I am still looking for my formula. Thanks for sharing!
I must admit, I do not have a formula other than to make each card personal to the recipient.
I am new to stamping & card making, so my formula is simple. Avoid anything that involves copic markers and heat embossing because I haven’t master those two techniques yet. Thanks for sharing and a chance to win a mini MISTI.
I must admit, I really don’t have a formula other than to make each card personal to the recipient.
Love your cards and your simple formula! What a great tip!
Love your videos. They are so often very helpful. Thanks for the chance to win a Misti
I love your style…you make it look so easy and casual. Thanks for sharing!
I would say that I use dies the most often or paper piecing, because my stamping is not the best. A Misti would change all of that!!
Wowza, what a stunning card, so simple yet beautiful! You make it all look seamless and easy to do…. and a chance to win a Misti even makes that much better!
My card making formula is just to basically “wing it” each and every time. I always begin with my main image/focal point and then build the card from there. I love the idea of those gold (and silver-I’m a silver kind o gal) elements that you showed in this post. Now to find that metallic paper….
Thank you for the chance to win a MISTI. I can now see how much I am missing out by not owning one yet.
So beautiful!
I sometimes use sketches for my card design, as well as pinterest inspiration. I really like your “formula” and I am so glad that you shared it. I will be trying it out soon!
Fabulous formula and gorgeous card! I don’t really have a set formula, I mainly just let the stamps and dies guide me when creating. 🙂
I don’t have a formula but now that you mention it I should! Thanks!
I do not have a formula, but enjoyed your suggestions.
No, I don’t have a formula for making cards and that’s probably why I have trouble getting started. I usually look at Pinterest and YouTube for inspiration. Now I will look at my Spellbinder’s dies and see if I have a fancy die that will work! I need to get the Vintage Rose dies too! I’d love to try using those dies with the Mini Misti.
Oops! I mean Vintage Rose stamps with the Mini Misti!
I don’t have a formula-something to think about!-but I love checking out other’s as great examples!
I made all my wedding invitations, favors, table numbers/menu cards, and thank you cards years ago. It was my first time “mass producing” and the Misti would have been a life saver. If only I could turn back the hands of time LOL. Though I thoroughly enjoyed the process, feeling a little rushed on a time schedule (and no one to help with any of it or the wedding planning, while having a destination wedding), taking breaks was my formula for happiness, satisfaction, and peace. Oh, YouTube helped a lot in learning so many awesome new crafting techniques!!
I’ve been making cards for a couple years now. I find every card is different and has a different purpose, so a formula can be tricky. For me I like to look at the topic of the card first… birthday, baby, sympathy and etc and go from there. After picking what the card is for and maybe who I’ll pick stamps and colors and then just start working stuff in from there.
Ooh, such an interesting post! Sometimes I think I have a good formula, and then my creativity and wanting to try something new or different takes over. I’ve found that sometimes the “accidents” along the way with my cardmaking have turned to to be my favorite cards. But usually when I start a new card, I have a vision and imagine the layout and colors and then try to make it come to life. Your cards are so pretty!
I use books on card making to help with my card making. Have wanted a Misti for a long time. I have problem with rubber stamping and the Misti would help so much
Great card, love the elements and colors used on it.
I don’t have a set formula. I am still really new at card-making and trying lots of things. I really love how simple this is to come up with a really elegant card. And now I know what to do with those lovely dies I have seen, but couldn’t think how I would use them. I love that you can change up the floral element, the frame, the color scheme, the way you do the sentiment, and still have a card that is unique to the recipient. Thanks for wonderful idea. I will definitely remember this one! (I might have to go try to do some die-cutting with my new magnetic platform and some of those dies I wasn’t sure how I’d use! On some of that shiny paper I just had to have!)
Haha..no formula for me..I just lay out all my stuff..helps not having much 🙂 .. And then try out different stuff to see if it works! Love this card btw..have been watching your videos for a while now and they rock! Xx
Loving your formula! I just started on card making so I’m still looking for mine! i usually stamp a few images first then colour them, if I don’t use them in the end, it goes to storage and I will rummage through it again on my next card making session!
Yana, you’re so inspiring to me! Thank you for sharing your formula! I’m starting to enjoy card making again & have yet to discover my own formula because I feel most creative when I’m creating a card with a particular person in mind.
i’ll have to give your formula a try since you make such gorgeous cards!
oh, and i don’t really have a formula….
I do not have a formula but i try to make it personal to the person I am giving it to.
Wow I love how simple and clean this is. Just beautiful. I do not have formula’s but wow this is perfect and thank you so much for showing all the Spellbinders dies. thank you also for the opportunity of winning a MISTI..
Overall, my cardmaking formula is CAS. Not that they all turn out that way, lol. And I always try to make cards as personal as I can. So far, I don’t do too bad a job of it. Thanks for a possible chance to win too!
i am going to try the gold touches. thanks for the inspiration!
those gold die cuts are amazing! No formula. just quick and often chaotic!
You make it look so easy and those frames are gorgeous! The closest I come to for a formula is a c!uster of die cut leaves, a swirl of complementary thread and the sentiment. And sequins, of course.
I LOVE your gold cuts!! I have DCWV metallic paper & I use it with all my dies…it comes out looking beautiful every time!! Would love to win your Mini-Misti…it will be fabulous!!
I love your cards and I hate to admit it but gold works for your cards, but I rarely get that same feel. I don’t know if it’s the colors I use or what but gold never looks good with my cards, why is that?
I really like the idea of having a card-making formula! I don’t have one, but your post has inspired me to create one. Great idea!
And thanks for a chance to win the Mini MISTI!
I only use photo examples for card making as I am a novice making cards.
My formula generally is to try to CASE a CAS card, but sometimes my brain refuses to cooperate, so I end up making something completely different!
My card making formula is to first pick the style of card base. Then I select a theme and build on that. Once my theme is selected I can pick colors, embellishments and so on. It seems to work for me in this order.
Thank you for a chance to win the Mini Misti. I so need one!
Elaine
I am revisiting card making and my formula has been to keep it simple but I am now starting to branch out into more complex designs.
Beautiful cards! I love the dimension! My card making formula is to go with the flow. I usually begin with one item or one technique I want to use, and let the rest just happen 🙂 Thanks so much for sharing this video!
I don’t have a secret formula for card making. I am just getting started, but I did join a card swap group!
I have yet to figure out my formula. But I will keep trying
Beautiful card. I love the die cuts from the gold paper
Thank you for sharing your secret formula – I particularly loved your frame recipes. I have collected Spellbinders for years and have a huge collection but they are severely under used. Now I will be able to put experiment with them and find my own favorites. I did like the colors you used for the flowers.
Thanks again for sharing your talents!
Love this video!! Thank you, Yana!!
Those are amazing dies and I love how you used it on the card. I would love the opportunity to win a Misti.
Thank you for your detailed instructions.
Thank you for the suggestions… I can’t a it to see my pretty dies cut out of gold papers! 🙂
i am still early in my card making game, so i am still looking for a good formula that will work for me. thank you for sharing yours!