If you’ve been following along on my blog, Instagram, or Facebook, you’ve probably noticed I’ve been obsessed with creating cards using my print-and-cut watercolor designs. I’ve been pairing them with printable backgrounds, SVG clipping masks, and my newest addition—birthday banners!
A quick note: some of the sentiment banners in these photos are from my earlier, simpler designs before I created the versions now available in the Silhouette Store. But I had to share these cards anyway because they’re absolutely gorgeous. There’s something so satisfying about cutting these beautiful floral designs and adding them to my crafting stash for quick card-making sessions.
The vibrant colors really pop when printed on glossy photo paper—it’s such a simple way to elevate the finished look. Keep reading to discover which products I used for these designs, and don’t miss the FREE card base template I use to create these square cards!
For the backgrounds I have been using a technique in Silhouette Studio of using SVG files as a clipping mask. I have a quick tutorial here on how to do it. Elly Mae of Silhouette Secrets has a more in depth tutorial, and has done a live youtube video on the technique which you can watch on replay. It is a super fun technique which really creates some gorgeous grungy textured shapes on the card bases. I like to make mine just fit the edges of the card and sometimes have it continue over the fold depending on the shape of the clipping mask.
I have created a selection of SVG Clipping Masks which are available in the Silhouette Design store. Or you can use the PNG versions of the clipping masks which I have on Etsy, Design Bundles and Creative Market in other software like Adobe Photoshop. I will be continuing to add more SVG clipping masks to the Silhouette Design Store so make sure you keep checking for new ones! If you do a search for clipping masks they should all come up quick and easy to find.
I have a print and cut file ready for my card shape ready to go then add the filled clipping mask and print and cut the card base using the clipping technique in the tutorial. You may find it easier to do the filled clipping mask first, size to approximately the right size and then add the card base over the top as the clipping mask files can be slow files to use in Silhouette Studio due to all that grungy goodness. Then you won’t need to do as much resizing to tweak.
Unfortunately some photo papers have logo’s on the back and I am currently searching for a good quality gloss photo paper brand that doesn’t. If you know of some nice thick gloss photo paper brands available in Australia that don’t have a logo, please do let me know! The last set I bought has logos so I have been creating some simple card inserts so you can’t see them. When I find a brand I like I will keep buying it and use up the logo paper on the watercolor print and cut designs I adhere to the front with foam squares to give the 3D effect.
The Doodled Happy Birthday Banner Sentiment Print and Cuts are featured on several of these cards. This set comes as fully configured print and cut sheet so that all you have to do is print and cut the design on your cutting machine which gives you a very handy selection of Happy Birthday Sentiments to use for your Cards and Scrapbook Layouts. I have been LOVING having these on hand to make quick cards together with a selection of embellishments ready for creating gorgeous cards for friends and family. If you would like the banners without the sentiments so you can create bespoke titles or sentiments for cardmaking, scrapbooking or other paper crafting you might like the Blank Doodled Banner Sentiment Print and Cut designs.
If you’d like to try these beautiful card designs keep reading to find out which designs I have used on each card and don’t miss the FREEBIE at the end of the article!
I love the bright and cheerful colours in this card and I am loving using these single flowers as a focus on cards so the cards in this article will have a single flower with a seperate leaves sprig. I will be doing another article soon with a slightly different look so stay tuned.
I then copied over the card base freebie included at the end of this article and print and cut the combined images as a print and cut design cut and scored by line as per the card base line colours.
Once these items were cut I attached them to the card base with adhesive foam squares and some pretty rhinestone adhesive bling as well!
This card isn’t in the first image but I thought it was worth including since it is the same style.
I used the exact same process as listed above to create this card and the following cards just with different supplies as follows.
I created a quick bespoke Happy Birthday Banner for this one to keep it nice and simple. I did a few extras to use for other cards with varying fonts as well.
Once again I assembled by adhering the flower leaves and sentiment with adhesive foam squares and added some coordinating rhinestone bling.
With this card I used one of the Blank Doodled Banners Print and Cut designs and added the Happy 50th Birthday sentiment to it before cutting as this card was for a family member who was turning 50! I love that I can use these banners to create bespoke sentiments on the gorgeous doodled banner.
And we are now getting down to my favourite cards. There is something about the colours in this one and the next one that absolutely love. They are just so striking. I intend to experiment more with vibrant colour combinations to provide striking results!
Now we come to my favourite. I just LOVE the vibrant colours in this one. They are bound to please anyone who receives this card because they are so darn pretty.
Each element was once again attached to the card base with adhesive foam squares to give the 3D effect and then I added some gorgeous coordinating rhinestone bling!
Now don’t miss the card base freebie. I have set it to fit on a 8.5×11″ print and cut page but if you are wish to work bigger it resizes easily to a 5×5″ card (or larger!) by making the dimensions 5×10″. I have set the score line to purple so it is easy to select it to cut and score by line. The cut line is in red. I have left it as transparent fill so that it doesn’t matter if your clipping mask is in front of or behind the cut lines. This SVG will work in any software although as it was created in Silhouette Studio you may need to adjust color fills and cut/stroke paths to suit your own software needs. Click here to download the FREEBIE! You will need to unzip the file before use.
Introducing the Flowy Watercolor Backgrounds Paper Pack, a vibrant collection of hand-painted watercolor bloom textures. Perfect for both printing and digital use, this versatile pack is ideal for a wide range of creative projects. Whether you’re crafting beautiful cards, creating unique art journals, or working on graphic design, these high-quality printable papers are designed to enhance your creative designs and elevate your digital scrapbook layouts.
Enhance your artistic potential with our Flowy Watercolor Digital Paper Pack, optimized for printing, graphic design, and digital scrapbooking. Each background is meticulously crafted to showcase the vibrant beauty of watercolor blooms, adding a touch of elegance and charm to your creations. With these versatile designs at your fingertips, you can embark on endless creative endeavors and bring your imaginative visions to life.
This pack includes 8 stunning Flowy Watercolor Digital Paper Background Textures, perfect for adding a touch of sophistication to any project. Check out these gorgeous backgrounds available in the stores listed below.
Ignite your imagination with our Persian Grunge Monoprint Digital Background Paper Pack and scroll on to see the same featured geometric pattern Shabby Grunge Misprint Backgrounds. Persian Monoprint Backgrounds are a unique collection features eight stunning backgrounds, each meticulously designed with grungy prints and exquisite monoprint textures. Perfect for scrapbooking, mixed media collage, card-making, and invitations, these printable backgrounds offer endless possibilities for your creative projects.
Each background measures 12″ x 12″ and is rendered in high-quality 300 dpi jpg format, ensuring crisp and vibrant prints every time. The Persian Grunge Monoprint Digital Paper Pack combines the charm of grunge with the elegance of Persian-inspired designs, making it a must-have for any crafting enthusiast.
Whether you’re creating a vintage-grunge inspired scrapbook, a shabby chic card, or a grunge-themed collage, these digital papers will add a touch of sophistication and uniqueness to your work. Experience the charm of grunge, digitally reimagined, and elevate your crafting projects to new heights with our Persian Grunge Monoprint Digital Paper Pack. These gorgeous backgrounds are available in the stores listed below! And don’t forget to keep scrolling to see the Shabby Grunge Misprint Backgrounds.
The Shabby Grunge Misprint Monoprints are just as gorgeous with beautiful colours and shabby misprints. The two sets of 8 printable 12×12″ 300dpi sets coordinate beautifully together and make for a stunning collection of backgrounds perfect for scrapbooking, card making, art journalling, invitations and more! This gorgeous set of backgrounds is available from the stores listed below.
Creating cards and scrapbooking just got easier with our ready-to-go Happy Birthday Sentiments! These beautiful sentiments feature a charming doodled grunge border, perfect for adding a touch of personality to your projects. Whether you’re crafting a birthday card or designing a scrapbook page, these sentiments will save you time and effort. For those who prefer to customize their designs, we also offer blank labels, allowing you to choose your own font and create personalized sentiments. This flexibility ensures that your creations are unique and tailored to your style. Our Sentiment Print and Cut labels come in various shapes, including oval, providing even more options for your crafting needs. Explore our collection and find the perfect sentiments to enhance your projects. Links to each design are provided below, and you can easily browse other products by viewing the collection underneath each linked product. Elevate your card making and scrapbooking with these versatile and stylish sentiment labels today! Scroll on to see the cards I created with the Braketed Happy Birthday Sentiments below!
Designs used in the Cards I created with the Doodled Grunge Bracketed Happy Birthday Sentiment Print and Cut Labels are as follows. I used this tutorial to create the SVG Framed effect on the printed card base.
Immerse yourself in the world of grunge with the Grunge Ephemera Monoprint Digital Backgrounds Paper Pack. This collection is a treasure trove of grungy prints and patterns, each piece enriched with the exquisite textures of monoprint.
Ideal for scrapbooking, this set of printable backgrounds adds a touch of grunge to your memories. For mixed media collage, the grungy prints provide a visually stunning base layer. Card-making becomes an exploration of texture and pattern, while invitations take on a distinctive, edgy vibe.
But the possibilities don’t stop there. This digital paper pack opens up a myriad of creative avenues. Whether you’re crafting a unique piece of wall art or designing a custom journal cover, the Grunge Ephemera Monoprint Backgrounds is a go-to resource for all things grunge.
The charm of grunge is digitally reimagined, bring a unique edge to your creative project and let your creativity run wild. Check out the Grunge Ephemera Monoprint Backgrounds in the stores listed below.
Step into the vibrant world of creativity with the Grungy Linen Monoprint Digital Paper Pack. This printable pack of backgrounds is a treasure trove of radiant colours and grungy linen monoprint textures that will add a unique touch to your digital scrapbook layouts, cards, invitations, and other creative projects.
Each design in this pack is a work of art, meticulously crafted to bring out the beauty of the grunge linen monoprint. The bright and fresh colours are sure to catch the eye, while the painted texture adds depth and character to each piece.
The pack includes eight distinct Grunge Linen Monoprint Digital Paper Backgrounds, offering a variety of designs to choose from. Whether you’re crafting a digital scrapbook layout, designing a card, or creating an invitation, these backgrounds will provide the perfect canvas for your creativity.
Check out these gloriously grungy textured backgrounds in the stores below.
Immerse yourself in the world of creativity with our Grunge Daisies Monoprint and Doodle Flowers Grunge Monoprint Digital Backgrounds. These background packs are a treasure trove of vibrant gradients and exquisite grungy monoprint painted textures, bringing a fresh and bright aesthetic to your projects.
The Grunge Daisies and Doodle Flowers sets are more than just digital scrapbook papers. They are a canvas for your imagination, perfect for crafting digital scrapbook layouts that tell a story. But the possibilities don’t stop there. These versatile sets can also be used to design unique cards, art journals and invitations that leave a lasting impression.
Every detail of these packs has been carefully crafted to inspire and ignite your creativity. So why wait? Start your creative journey today with our Grunge Daisies Monoprint and Doodle Flowers Grunge Monoprint Digital Paper Packs. Your next masterpiece is just a click away. Check out the Grunge Daisies Monoprint Backgrounds in the stores below and then scroll on for the Doodle Flowers Grunge Monoprint Backgrounds. And don’t miss the cards I created with these backgrounds at the end of this post!
Don’t miss the Doodle Flower Grunge Monoprint Backgrounds! They coordinate beautifuly with the Grunge Daisies Monoprints if you want to combine them for a design project. I just love the subtle floral print that shows on the cards I created with these background sets. Check out the Doodle Flower Grunge Monoprints in the stores below!
There is something special about marbling. I have always loved the beautful patterns it creates and I had so much fun creating these beautiful backgrounds by hand.
Each piece in this collection is a testament to the beauty of hand-painted marble patterns, brought to life in bright and cheerful colours. The unique blend of hand painting and printing gives these marbled backgrounds a distinctive charm that sets them apart.
But the appeal of these backgrounds isn’t just skin-deep. They are incredibly versatile, making them the perfect choice for a wide range of crafts. Whether you’re into cardmaking, 3D crafts, scrapbooking, papercrafts, or graphic design, these backgrounds will add a touch of elegance to your projects.
So why settle for the ordinary when you can have extraordinary? With our Marbled Backgrounds set, every project becomes a masterpiece. Experience the difference today. Remember, creativity starts with the right foundation. And with our Marbled Backgrounds, you’re always off to a great start. Check out the backrounds in the following stores. And scroll on to check out the process video showing me create one of the backgrounds.
Now don’t miss the process video! You can see the process used to create these beautiful papers. They were created by hand and then meticulously edited in photoshop to ensure a high quality product for your use.
Introducing our Monoprint Painted Gradient Digital Background and Grunge Monoprint Painted Gradient Collections! These two fabulous collections feature a vibrant array of bright and fresh gradients, each one adorned with a beautiful monoprint painted texture.
Our Monoprint Painted Gradient & Grunge Monoprint Gradient Digital Scrapbook Printable Paper sets are the perfect tool for your creative projects. Whether you’re designing digital scrapbook layouts, crafting cards, or creating invitations, these papers add a touch of artistic flair that’s sure to impress.
What sets our Monoprint Painted & Grunge Monoprint Gradient Papers apart is their stunning textures. So lifelike, you’ll want to reach out and touch them! These papers are not only wonderful for digital creations, but they’re also perfect for printing. Create beautiful cards, altered art, and art journals that truly stand out.
So why wait? Dive into the world of creativity with our Monoprint Painted Gradient Digital Background Collection. It’s not just a product, it’s a canvas for your imagination. Check out the Monoprint Painted Gradient Backgrounds in the stores below, and then don’t forget to scroll on to see the Grunge Monoprint Painted Gradients.
The Grunge Monoprint Gradients are just as gorgeously vibrant but feature a little more grunge. I just know you will love the textures in these backgrounds! Check them out in the stores below!
Print And Cut Designs are one of my favourite things to design and also one of my favourite things to craft with. Most of the time I can reliably get a beautiful cut which is extremely even with my Silhouette Cameo 4. Recently however my cuts have been a little off. So last night I decided as a refresher to watch this video by Silhouette Secrets to remind myself of things to check for. I checked all the things she mentioned but the thing that jumped out at me was when she mentioned how some newer printers can print a bit incorrectly.
My printer isn’t new, but recently a paper feed roller did go missing and as a result it started making squeaking noises when the paper feeds. Hoping to just stop the noise since it still seemed to be feeding I just put a piece of tape over the holders for the roller which were scraping on the paper as it fed while printing. It worked, so I then promptly forgot about the issue. Then last night while trying to print my Dreaming Elements Print and Cut for a card I was going to make I got a misaligned cut that I have not had the entire time I have had my Cameo 4. Actually that is a lie, I had got slightly misaligned cuts last week but they weren’t bad enough that I was concerned. I just figured it was user error. But last nights cut was seriously misaligned and not usable.
As you can see most of these elements have no offset on the left side, some of the ones not shown were better which is what clued me into the fact it might be the printer that was the issue. The two border elements on the left were almost properly aligned, but the further right and towards the bottom the worse it got.
So then it occured to me it might be the printer roller that was the issue. I googled printer rollers for my printer in case replacements were available but I couldn’t find any that I thought were for the right spot. They all looked to be for different areas of the printer, and it was hard to tell either way. Not to mention the fact I was impatient to get my card done and didn’t want to wait for a spare part to arrive. So I thought…hmm, maybe I can make something that will fit.
So I found a safety pin to cut the end from to use as a spindle of sorts. The pin part of the safety pin fit in the holders for the roller. Then I needed something to act as the roller. I decided a hot glue gun stick would be something I could stick
the pin through and would have enough “grab” to roll with the paper as it went through the printer. So I put the pin through the middle of the glue stick. At first I tried loosely taping the pin in place but while it seemed like it moved ok I was still getting the occasional printer jam error which I think must be because it was grabbing the tape now and again. So I thought I need something to protect the pin from the tape. I still had some watercolor brush protectors that I thought were small enough to work, so I found one and cut it in half to put one on each side of the roller. It meant the pin could spin freely in the paint brush protector but would not fall out of the holder once taped down. So I fit the roller in place, taped down the paint brush protectors so they couldn’t move and it looked like it would work. Next thing to do was test it!
What do you know it worked!
1 safety Pin
1 Hot Glue Gun Stick
1 Watercolor Brush Protector
2 Pieces of Painters Tape
Thats all it took. And it works. Now it feeds, time to test the print! Did it print nice and straight so that the print and cut would work correctly?
Yup it worked perfectly! Now remember, this is clearly not the only possible reason a print and cut may not cut correctly, and I recommend you watch the video by Silhouette Secrets if you are having trouble because using her advice I get consistent results when I do print and cut on my Silhouette Cameo 4. But in my case, the proof is in the pudding. I got a perfect cut second time round!
Of course I have done myself a diservice because I was hoping to upgrade my printer to a White Canon A3 Printer as I would love to be able to print bigger and White would match my desk setup better. And now I can’t justify the expense. Silly, silly me! I should have said to my hubby that the printer is broken and now I need a new one! Ha! I did have fun pretending to be McGyver though!
I was making the card for another blog post, but clearly I need to share it here now! Below is the card I made using the elements from the Dreaming Elements Print and Cut File.
