10 Diagonal Patterns and a Slanted Tutorial

It has been brought to my attention that I often design cards with a bold angle. Sometimes it stems from a sketch that inspires me, but sometimes it adds an interesting twist to the straight up-and-down designs I most frequently create. Either way, a diagonal slant often finds its way into my projects.

Today I’m sharing ten projects from the past two years that feature a diagonal cut and walking you through some tips for achieving this same look for yourself.


Designing with Diagonals

Let’s take a look at the ten projects I’m excited to re-share. You can click on any of the pictures to read more about each card:

Geared Up Garage, Painted Seasons Designer Series Paper, Stampin' Up!, Brian King, birthday card

Fable Friends, Forever Lovely, Stampin' Up!, Brian King

Birthday Cheer, Botanical Butterfly Designer Series Paper, Stampin' Up!, Brian King

Flourish Filigree, Santa's Workshop Specialty Designer Series Paper, Stampin' Up!, Brian KingWishing You Well, Stampin' Up!, Brian King

Up & Away Thinlits Dies, En Route, Stampin' Up!, Brian King, CTS287

Confetti Celebration, Pick a Pattern Washi Tape, Stampin' Up!, Brian KingBest Birds, Stampin' Up!, Brian King, GDP129

Coffee Break Designer Series Paper, Merry Cafe, Stampin' Up!, Brian King

Sorry for Everything, Cat Punch, Stampin' Up!, Brian King, sympathy cardWith all of that proof, it’s hard for me to say that my penchant for diagonal designs doesn’t exist. It’s definitely there – and I love it. ♥ Sometimes it’s front-and-center, and other times it hides in the background. It always adds sometime unexpected (even when it become expected).


Tips for Designing with Diagonals

Here are some tips for achieving great diagonals for yourself:

  • Glue and Snip. Most of the diagonal bands I add to cards create a fun background pattern that extends from one side of a panel (or card base) to the other. The Fable Friends bunny (designed with a Freshly Made Sketches layout) is a perfect example (also shown above):Fable Friends, Forever Lovely, Stampin' Up!, Brian KingI simply cropped 3/4″ bands of cardstock and glued them to the base of Crumb Cake (before gluing the Crumb Cake to Basic Black). I then snipped the bands along the Crumb Cake edges. Here are some handy tips:
    • Before gluing anything down, lay down all the bands to get them positioned exactly where you want them. Once positioned, remove one and glue it down. Repeat until all are in place.
    • Be sure to push the cardstock for one band against the others for a seamless look.
    • Add glue to the cardstock base (vs. the bands) so that you don’t get glue all over the stamp space you are working on.
  • Angled Banner. Sometimes the angles are subtle. Several times, I cut a strip of cardstock and angle the banner ends. Here’s one example (shown above): Wishing You Well, Stampin' Up!, Brian KingHere’s another (not shown above): Butterfly Gala, Garage Gears Thinlits Dies, Stampin' Up!, Brian KingTo achieve this look:
    • Crop a strip of paper.
    • Cut one side at an angle.
    • Line up the angle against the lines on your Stampin’ Trimmer.
    • Cut the other side at the same angle.Tips for cutting even banner diagonals, Stampin' Up!, Brian King
  • Cut, Cut, Glue. The banner doesn’t always cut across the center of the card. The card I shared on Wednesday starts with an angled base to which two strips are added for additional effect. Here’s a look at that card (also shown above): Geared Up Garage, Painted Seasons Designer Series Paper, Stampin' Up!, Brian King, birthday cardHere’s how I built the front panel of this card:
    • I cut a piece of cardstock and a piece of Designer Series Paper the same size.Tips for using diagonals on a card, Stampin' Up!, Brian King
    • I cut the base of the Designer Series Paper at an angle. The angle can be measured along the side so the cardstock or eye-balled to the desired angle.Tips for using diagonals on a card, Stampin' Up!, Brian King
    • I glued the Designer Series Paper to the cardstock.Tips for using diagonals on a card, Stampin' Up!, Brian King
    • I added glue to the cardstock below the Designer Series Paper and glued down the 1″ strip with the sentiment on it.Tips for using diagonals on a card, Stampin' Up!, Brian King
    • I trimmed along the edges of the yellow paper so it’s cut flush with the sides of the cardstock. I also added an additional strip from the Delightfully Detailed Laser-cut Specialty Paper and cropped it the same as the yellow band.
    • Bonus! Depending on where you cut your diagonal, you can have a piece to line the bottom of another card front.Tips for using diagonals on a card, Stampin' Up!, Brian King

I hope you like my cards and find the tutorials I’ve shared helpful. Sometimes there’s just a little math that needs to happen to take your project from good to great.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Brian

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36 Comments

  1. Love, love these ideas, Brian. Diagonal designs add so much interest to the card front.
    Thank you for sharing, ?
    XO

    • Thanks, Maria! I was surprised to see how many times I rely on the diagonals once I looked back, but I also realize how much I love it. Always wonderful to hear from you! ♥

    • Thanks Brian
      I don’t use diagonals, thought they were too complicated. Not so! Thanks for the tips.

      • Glad you like the tips, Gail! Between us, it’s actually easier to go diagonal so that you don’t have to worry about getting things perfectly straight. Thanks for your comments! ♥

  2. Fantastic tips and examples, BK. I loved how you used the lines of the trimmer to get the opposite side cut and trimmed evenly.

  3. Thank you, Brian, for the detailed explanation of creating these diagonal designs. They really are so eye catching. Thank you for including the picture of the trimmer process. ?

    Suzie

    • I’m always happy to share with you, Suzie! I realize not everyone things about things the same way I do, so there are sometimes little nuggets to share. ♥

  4. You are so awesome. Thanks. Now I am reminded of how to use some of those leftover strips of cardstock living in the bottom of my folders.

  5. Brian thanks so much! We all need reminding of how to get the most bang for our buck by not wasting our left-over strips. As well as the diagonal lines add additional interest to the card. Your parade of examples are beautiful.

    • Thank you, Katrina! I would have never noticed that I make a lot of diagonals had it not been pointed out to me. I do love the appeal of a good slanted design – and it’s a great way to use scraps.. ♥

  6. I feel like I just taken a course! Splendid. thanks so much for all the hints. You are the best!

  7. Thanks Brian for all the SUPER AWESOME Tips for Designing with Diagonals. My favorite is lining the edge up on the opposite end to cut a perfect banner flag. YOU ARE SOOOO SMART my friend. Thanks for sharing!!!!

  8. Brian, you are brilliant. Somehow I wasn’t getting your posts, but fixed it about a week ago and I’m always excited when I see a blog email from you. Love these cards and your instructions. Thanks for sharing and have a great weekend.

  9. Oh Brian – I so love a parade of your cards. A reminder of how awesome you are AND what a great way to use up some of these piles of scrap. I’m going to share a secret Shhhhh! I love your method of cutting perfectly angled strips and I’m going to try it with fabric as well. What a neat scrap quilt that would make! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

    • That’s such a fun idea, Grace! I promise I won’t tell a soul about your wonderful idea! I love that you have two crafts that can inspire each other. ♥

  10. I am wanting to buy the Painted Seasons designer paper only, not the bundle. Is there any way to do this? Or just a sheet or two would be fine too, especially the mushroom paper. I can’t place a $100.00 order now.
    Thanks.

    • Hi Nancy, I’m so sorry, but this offering is only available as a bundle to be earned during Sale-a-Bration. Demonstrators were able to pre-order these items, but they aren’t available for sale. All the best to you, my friend!

  11. Your a genius having fun!!

  12. I learned several new tips from this post, Brian. I love that you are a leader, teacher, genius cardmaker and enabler all in one amazing man. Thanks so much for these tips. Hope your day was great!

  13. I must say that I just accepted those diag. stripes as BRIAN`S STYLE !
    Thanks for the cutting tips . I need help in getting things straight !
    BTW ….I love love your bunny card …it is the sweetest !!

  14. You are the master of slant! Great tutorial!

  15. You’ve got this down to a science! 🙂

  16. Thank you for the great tips, Brian. I can’t wait to try them out!??

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