It’s been raining a lot here in Atlanta, so I wanted to make a bright and cheery card to remind me that Spring is here. April is really holding its end of the bargain in the old “April showers bring May flowers” quip – so I’m expecting big things from you, May!
I am trying something new on my blog today. Lately, I’ve had a lot of fun with layering paper and images. After I designed this Spring card and realized there are 14 layers of card stock, I thought, “Why show it all at once? Why not build the card, layer by layer, with?” I don’t want your head to explode, so I’m sharing it stage by stage. I believe it’s important to establish expectations up-front, so please know that you won’t see the final card today. Come back tomorrow for the conclusion of today’s Build-a-Card.
STEP ONE: I cut a piece of Lucky Limeade to 5-1/2″x11″ and scored it at 5-1/2″. I trimmed a piece of Whisper White at 5-3/8″x5-3/8″ and glued it to the front of the card: 
STEP TWO: I trimmed a piece of Melon Mambo card stock at 5-1/4″x5-1/4″ and glued it to the Whisper White piece:
STEP THREE: The next layer was SUPPOSED to turn into something absolutely amazing, but I realized afterwards that I could have made it easier on myself by simply adding a layer of the striped Designer Series Paper and a white square. This layer, though, is composed of a 5″x5″ piece of Whisper White card stock and four triangles created by cutting two 2-1/2″x2-1/2″ squares with my Stampin’ Trimmer:
STEP FOUR: The white space that was so painstakingly created in the center of the card left me wanting more, so I added a 3-1/4″x3-1/4″ square of Marina Mist card stock. That leaves a nice border of white around the central square. 
STEP FIVE: After getting all those layers created, I felt like I needed to straighten the card front. I tried to play around with a diamond-shaped card front, but it wasn’t working for me. THIS gave me the chance, though, to add more layers. More layers, more layers, more layers. I won’t stop until the postage for this puppy $3.95.
STEP SIX: A piece of 3-1/8″x3-1/8″ Whisper White card stock finishes off the front panel of this card. Or is it really finished? That’s eight layers of card stock. I promised you 14, so we aren’t done yet.
What do you think it going on the front of this card? I’ll give you a hint: there are six layers of card stock left. The resulting image is simple and clean and uses some punches in a unique (I think) way. Come back tomorrow to follow the remaining steps.
Thanks for stopping by my blog today.
Brian
YOU WAITED AND WAITED. Today is the last day to order any (or all) of the items in the Sent With Love suite. This paper is delicious, and the coordinating stamps are fantastic. After they are gone, they are gone. Order now by clicking HERE!
I think you finish off with some scallop punches and circle circus or quintessential flower. Mainly because they are my favorite. 🙂
You are a tease, Brian King! My need to see things finished from start to end is screaming inside!
This is fun ! I like all of the layers …. especially since you gave us the measurements …. and the colors are pretty and perky for spring . I`m looking forward to tomorrow because I can`t imagine what`s next ??????
The anticipation is killing me! I’m loving it so far 🙂
Slightly less than 22 hours until your next steps are revealed , Brian ;-). Such a tease you are! 🙂
Oh what a tease! It’s love so far and definitely colorful and springy. I can’t wait to see the rest of the layers. Have a great day!
Goodness Brian, you are really making me wonder about tomorrow’s post, I will be thinking about it all day. I can’t imagine what will be there in the center, it’s early and the caffeine hasn’t kicked in yet but I know it will be something really great.
This is fun! Love your comments in step 5 🙂 Can’t wait to tune in tomorrow for the conclusion!
OH, GOSH! I didn’t realize this little experiment would cause such anxiety out there. It’s also causing me great anxiety now because I realize y’all are expecting something really big. The rest is quite simple and cute to complement the business of the card so far. Just don’t want you to be disappointed. Please don’t be disappointed. 🙂
Ooooohhhhh I can’t imagine what comes next, but so far I’m loving it! Glad someone besides me is helping USPS stay in business with thick cards!
Hey this is no fair! I have been scrolling and scrolling and there is no conclusion. Only you could get away with putting an unfinished card on your blog! LOL! Ahhh…the suspense. This is like watching the best movie you ever recorded and realizing you only recorded half of it. Help!
Actually, I think you are letting us off the hook pretty easy revealing the final design tomorrow. You could have drawn this out for 14 days, one day at a time for each layer. I am learning daily how your creative mind works. By now, everyone is probably not liking my comment very much. Cause you may just do it. Please don’t ban me from the blog! I couldn’t survive. Maybe you will finish the card off with Rain or Shine, Spring Sampler, Bootiful Occasions stamp sets. Endless possibilities.
Too funny, Lisa! I thought about making it a week but knew it would have to be something spectacular. No worries. This won’t drag on and on and on. 🙂 I played around with one of those stamp sets but opted against it. In the end (big hint here), there’s not a lot of ink on the card.
I am loving this card so far! Can’t wait for tomorrow — you could never disappoint — not to worry!
my first time commenting even tho i check this site out daily. love it. and all your cards. but i am new at this and was wondering instead of using all the card stock in layers could just strips of paper building in from the edge work as well. curious , i cringe when i see all the beautiful paper being covered up. thank you
I think this is fun! We can make the card along with you, day by day. (I am!) Don’t worry about disappointing us- all of your cards are FABULOUS.
Cruel! I love how the card is starting out. Can’t wait to see it completed.
Whoa! 14 layers? Holy Moley! Brian, you have to tell us how much this beauty weighs when completed!
My head exploded when I read “14 layers”. I love the suspense! Looks amazing so far!!!
Whoa! Great idea…can’t hard wait to see the final…
The intrigue has begun…… Never a disappointment, Brian, no matter what you do but thank you for it not being 14 days!
such a tease! I think you will finish off with a flower made from banner framelits???
Brian the unbralla ?? cuz you said it was raining …..
can’t wait my friend …..
hugs f,
Like Lisa, I was expecting you to say the big reveal would be on Day 14! Glad it’s tomorrow!
Geeeez.. this is killing me….. the anticipation….. its too much…. but as April Showers bring May Flowers…. I imagine you have flowers cut out…. with rain drops….. or something to that effect….
but I really want to see it now….
thank God you did not draw it out 14 days!!! I suppose I can wait till tomorrow, since I dont have a choice… you are such a tease Brian!!
What is the DSP? I love it. (and the card, of course!
Lois, The DSP is from Sunshine & Sprinkles. It’s in the Spring Catalog and is filled with beautiful, bright designs.
It’s a good thing I don’t live in Atlanta! I’m the one who can’t stand a wrapped present and have been known to secretly unwrap and wrap it back up. I think I would be knocking on your door to see the end result. Now I am going to have to check your blog BEFORE I go to work inthe morning! LOL I love all the info which makkes it easy for us to make it along with you! I am sure we will not be disappointed! Patience is a virtue but I want it right now!!!
I am with Sonny and Barbara M…no angst, just fun thinking how you will decorate and looking forward to seeing the completed card!
Brian, if you ever think this is a good idea to post like this again, you could offer up a prize for the reader who is willing to whip up the same card and top it off with what they think your finished card would look like. They can send you a pic and then you can post the completed cards and have readers guess which card is yours. Hah! Now that would be torture. I mean fun.
I agree with the other visitors….you are a ginormous tease!!!
Ohhhhhhhh Meg , you are good! Good challenge.
Pingback: Build-a-Card: Day Two | stampwithbrian.com