Photo Card Tutorial -

I LOVE flowers and I love taking pictures of flowers.  When you capture a striking picture from nature a nice clean setting is the best way to showcase its beauty.

I used Picasa 3 to print out several pictures at once using the small wallet size.

Nestabilities and the Cuttlebug are the easiest way I've found to cut the pictures out to the size I want.  The Nestabilities die pictured is from the Small Classic Rectangle set - the next to the largest size.  The sandwich I use for cutting is - A plate, B plate, photo, Nestabilities die (pointed down) and C plate.  I realize that this isn't the normal sandwich but I like to see what I am cutting!

LOOK at that pretty pile of beautiful flowers!  Nearly all of those pictures were taken in my yard over the past couple years.

A great way to set off the pictures is to emboss a frame using the largest of the Nestabilities Small Classic Rectangle dies.   The sandwich I use for embossing is - A plate, 2 sheets of paper for shimming, B plate, rubber embossing mat, cardstock, Nestabilities die (pointing down) and B plate.  This step really adds a WOW factor to a finished photo card.

I stamped sentiments with some of my favorite A Muse stamps and now I am ready for finishing these cards "assembly line" style.  I frame out the photos with a piece of black cardstock that is a bit bigger than the photo.  TIP - Remember if you printed your photos on an inkjet printer DO NOT use any type of liquid glue to adhere your photos or disaster will ensue (don't ask how I know this).  I use dimensionals to attach the matted photos to the finished notecards.

Here is a pile of finished cards.  A fun variation is to make photo cards with vacation photos - I've done that for gifts in the past or to use a family picture as a personalized thank you card.

Here are a few of my favorites.  Have fun!
BTW - I won on the CPS blog this week!!  WHOO HOO!!