Cardmaking Tips: How Contrast Changes Your Handmade Cards

I’ve started a little series on my YouTube channel called “Fix My Card”, where we’ll explore design principles to try when a card isn’t coming together quite as you imagined. You might find a small adjustment that makes it click—or discover how different choices change the mood and feel of a design.

For this first video, we’re looking at contrast, using the Radiant Sunflower stamps and dies along with the Sunflower Fields paper pack.

Two handmade sunflower cards using Stampin’ Up! Radiant Sunflower stamps and dies and Sunflower Fields paper, showing how low and high contrast create different effects.

For the first video in this series, I focused on contrast. The card on the left has low contrast in colour, texture, size, and shape, giving it a softer, more understated feel. The card on the right uses stronger contrast to create a more defined focal point. Both approaches work—it depends on the look and mood you want to create.

Handmade sunflower card with stronger contrast in colour, texture, size and shape to create a defined focal point, featuring Stampin’ Up! Radiant Sunflower.

To step up the contrast, I changed the card base color, as well as changed up the angles on the card. In addition, I added a small strip of a darker print from the Sunflower Fields so the project wasn’t entirely shades of yellow.

Of course, coloring in the flowers in some different colors (Golden Glow, Cajun Craze, and Cherry Cobbler) with accents of the White Gel Pen also really stepped up the contrast.

Radiant Sunflower handmade card with sanded edges, an embossed white cardstock background layer and twine for added texture and detail.

This third version feels more like my style, with details I enjoy: sanded edges, an extra layer of embossed white cardstock in the background, and a little twine.

While I do like a clean and simple or simple elegance, I also do love subtle texture and layers.

If you’d like even more ideas with the Sunflower Fields Suite, the All Stars Design team has prepared a 12 project PDF just for you! Enjoy these 12 projects with complete cutting measurements, photos, and a step by step videos so you can make the most of your Sunflower Fields products:

Please also enjoy this edited YouTube video which discusses the principle of contrast as well as goes through my thought process. While you’re there,

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Stuck on what to make? Design Spark is your go-to digital sketchbook with 30 card sketches (with measurements!) —each in three variations—for 120 total designs to spark your creativity. Whether you love clean and simple or layered and detailed, you’ll find inspiration on every page.

Happy crafting! ~Jacque