Hello, all, and happy Thursday! This year, we’ve asked our team members to share their favourite technique with us each month, and we are excited to kick off this new series today with Tina Smith! Tina’s technique also shows off her new collection, Windows With a View, that has just been released from Spellbinders which we just love, and we think you will, too! Let’s take a look!

Hello, everyone! My name is Tina Smith and this is my first blog post project for Scrapbook & Cards Today Magazine! Being here makes me smile, and I am excited to share one of my favorite techniques with you. I have a cardmaking blog called Cards & Coffee Time, and the technique I love to do most is adding windows or frames to my projects. Frames add dimension and allow images to be center stage. My card project features one of the die sets from the Spellbinders Windows with a View Collection, this collection is one of my favorites. I may be particularly partial as it was designed by yours truly. 

Supplies | Spellbinders: Coastal Escape Etched Die, Sending Sunshine Sentiments Stamp, Color Essential Cardstock (Chamomile, Beeswax, Waterfall, Fruit Punch, Persimmon, Purple Mist, Fern, Peridot, Rainforest, Lunar Gray, Snowdrift), Clear Acetate Sheets, Glaze n’ Glue; Scrapbook.com: Double Sided Adhesive Foam Strips, Dotted Refillable Adhesive Tape Roller; Pinkfresh Studio Full Size Ink Pads: (Licorice, Doe, Clementine & Storm); Honey Bee Stamps: Dew Drops

The Spellbinders Windows with a View Collection has several die sets. Today, I am creating with the Spellbinders Coastal Escape Etched die set and the Spellbinders Sending Sunshine Sentiments stamp set. The Coastal Escape Die has a porthole window large enough to create an under-the-sea adventure.

I started my adventure by creating a tone-on-tone background using yellow cardstock and one of the wave dies. Adding a piece of acetate to the porthole window and Honey Bee Stamps Dew Drops for bubbles made a realistic-looking window with lots of texture and dimension. I ink blended a dark ink on the bottom of the ocean scene creating depth, adding colorful coral, bright layered fish, and ocean botanicals.

Tip: This could easily be made into a shaker card—just add sequins! I placed my greeting at the bottom of my window with the Sending Sunshine Sentiments making this card one that can be used for everyday, vacations, and retirements. 

I hope you get a chance to check out my Windows with a View collection at Spellbinders and try creating your projects using windows or frames. Thanks for stopping by and have a lovely day!

Find more of Tina’s creations at these links: Blog | Instagram | YouTube